Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell

Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell are an English contemporary folk duo made up of Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell. Kearney sings lead vocals and plays guitar, piano and ukulele, while Farrell plays fiddle, viola and musical saw and contributes harmony vocals. The pair meet while studying on Newcastle University’s Folk and Traditional Music course in 2005. Kearney comes from Hexham in Northumberland and Farrell from Maidstone in Kent.

Style and repertoire

The duo work within contemporary folk but combine traditional songs with original material shaped by the folk tradition. They also interpret songs by other writers, including Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Cole Porter, Brian Wilson and The Beatles.

Early releases and performances

After playing folk clubs and festivals including Green Man, End of the Road and Cambridge Folk Festival, they attract the attention of The Unthanks. Adrian McNally of The Unthanks produces their debut six-song EP, The North Farm Sessions, which consists largely of their own compositions. Tracks from the EP receive airplay on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC 6 Music, and they record a Campfire Special session for Rob da Bank’s Radio 1 show.

Album and collaborations

Their first full-length album, Kite, is also recorded at North Farm. It is released in October 2011 and keeps the close duo sound at its centre, while adding contributions from Adrian McNally on piano, Dean Ravera on double bass, Chris Hibbard on trombone, Paul Ruddick on saxophone and clarinet, and Peter Tickell on fiddle. Outside the duo, Farrell contributes viola and vocals to Emily Portman’s album The Glamoury. Kearney plays piano on The Unthanks’ autumn 2011 tour and on their live album of Robert Wyatt and Antony Hegarty songs.

Awards and recognition

At Newcastle University, Kearney receives the Alan Hull prize for songwriting. The duo are nominated for the Horizon award for best emerging artist at the 2011 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and for Best Duo at the 2012 awards.