Tom Kitching and Gren Bartley

Tom Kitching and Gren Bartley

Tom Kitching and Gren Bartley are a British folk duo made up of Tom Kitching on fiddle and mandolin, and Gren Bartley on guitar, banjo and vocals. They meet at Loughborough University while presenting a folk programme on campus radio, and the partnership develops from a shared wish to perform the music they like.

Bartley develops a distinctive songwriting style over time. The duo release their debut album, Rushes, in 2007, followed by Boundary in 2009. Their music combines bright fiddle lines with Bartley’s finger-picking guitar style and original compositions rooted in folk traditions. Kitching is described as a fluid fiddler with a style that works across English, American and Irish traditions, while Bartley is noted for his accomplished songwriting and calm vocal delivery.