Megan Henwood is a UK singer-songwriter from Reading, born in 1987 and associated with folk music. She first performs in public at the Henley Youth Festival at the age of nine, singing one of her own songs. As a teenager, she develops her songwriting on the local live circuit, working both as a solo artist and with her band.

Early life and work

Henwood spends six months travelling as a young adult, funding herself by playing guitar and singing to audiences in Venice, Thailand, India and Malaysia. During this period she develops a strong connection with Nepal and later returns to Kathmandu to record with Nepalese musicians Nirmal Kulu, Binod Katal and Shyram Saram Nepali.

Alongside performing and writing songs, she regularly contributes to music therapy sessions for people with learning difficulties.

BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award

In 2009, Henwood and her brother Joe, who plays saxophone, perform together as Megan & Joe Henwood and win the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award. They take the prize at Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s Southbank, with Henwood aged 20. The win follows strong competition in the final.

Recordings and collaborators

Her debut single, “What Elliott Said”, gains attention through BBC Radio 2 playlisting and sessions on stations including the Janice Long show. Her debut album, “Making Waves”, includes guest appearances from Peter Knight of Steeleye Span on fiddle, Barriemore Barlow of Jethro Tull on drums, and Joe Brown, Sam Brown and Mollie Marriott. The first single, “Hope on the Horizon”, features Sam Brown on backing vocals and Nick Fyffe of Jamiroquai on bass. Her third album, “River”, is released in autumn 2017.

Live performances

Henwood appears at a wide range of folk and festival events, including Cropredy, Cambridge Folk Festival, Secret Garden Party, Towersey Village Festival, Warwick Folk Festival, Moseley Folk Festival, Oxford Folk Festival, Cheltenham and Sidmouth Folk Festival. She also makes her first Glastonbury appearance in 2010.

She plays support slots around the UK with Ray Davies, Cara Dillon, Julie Fowlis and Eilen Jewell, and also tours UK theatres supporting Eric Bibb. She remains a regular performer at Nettlebed Folk Club.