The Breath (IRE/UK)

The Breath

The Breath is Manchester-based guitarist Stuart McCallum and singer/flautist Ríoghnach Connolly. They met on the city’s gig circuit in the late noughties. An unlikely pairing though it was, he an acclaimed guitar whiz, ex long-time member of The Cinematic Orchestra and a softly spoken Manchester urbanite, she a folk singer with a larger-than-life personality and a powerful voice to match. Their connection was immediate; they formed The Breath in 2016, a singer-songwriter duo to present their contemporary take on alt-folk.

The Breath have released three albums on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label. Their breakthrough album, ‘Carry Your Kin’ (2016) delved deeply into the spaces between rock, ambient and Irish folk, where layered vocals, mesmerising guitar riffs and expansive folk arrangements created a big sound. ‘Let the Cards Fall’ followed in 2018, and, like the first, was recorded with a full band granting a multi-textured kaleidoscope of sound with a cinematic sensibility. References to Celtic history and cultural loss are woven into a bewitching collection of songs that span beguiling ballads and punch-the-air anthems. In support of the release, Stuart and Ríoghnach performed a series of shows – just the two of them. Stripped bare, they found a new depth and beauty in their songs allowing their extraordinary connection to shine through. The duo returned to the studio in 2019 to record ‘Only Stories (Let the Cards Fall Revisited)’ reimagining previous work (alongside two new songs) taking it back to its acoustic roots. This new direction would see Ríoghnach Connolly receive an RTÉ Folk Award nomination for Best Folk Singer and win Folk Singer Of The Year at the 2019 BBC R2 Folk Awards for which the duo were also nominated as Best Duo/Group.
During the pandemic of 2020/2021, The Breath returned to the studio to record a set of songs in remembrance of American lost folk icon, Karen Dalton. In the spring of 2021, they released a two-track single, ‘Something On Your Mind’ and original song, ‘Remembering Mountains’. They release their third studio album on Real World Records in 2023.

The Breath released their new album, ‘Land Of My Other’ in October 2023. Ten original tracks of raw, gorgeous, acoustic-minded music. Songs that tell stories in ways that soothe, stir, exalt, and touch emotional chords that will bring tears of lamenting joy, to your eyes.

‘Quietly, inexorably, The Breath have become one of the … most exciting folk acts… Only Stories… an acoustic recording that unfolds like a paper flower’ - The Financial Times ★★★★★

‘raw, soulful, often mesmeric, richly textured and lushly constructed…versatile persuasive vocals’ - Mojo

‘an affecting blend …. McCallum provides the grandeur and artifice and Connolly the intimacy and purity’ - Uncut

‘The Breath rolls across the senses like clouds caress low hills – always moving, changing, evolving; and utterly fascinating’ - Folk Radio.com

‘folk roots but different horizons… the jaw-droppingly stunning, woozy voice of Ríoghnach Connolly’ - The Guardian

Caoilfhionn Rose

Caoilfhionn Rose (pronounced Keelin), is a singer, songwriter and producer who was born in Manchester, England, with family roots in Northern Ireland and Yorkshire (UK). Emerging from a diverse music scene, she ties together remnants of Manchester’s musical past with its evolving present. She has collaborated with musicians from around the world and is perhaps best known for her work with Vini Reilly of The Durutti Column Collaborating on four songs on the Chronicle LX: XL

Caoilfhionn released her long-awaited sophomore album ‘Truly’ on Gondwana Records which was co-produced by Keir Stewart of The Durutti Column. It moves through a tapestry of curious musical inflections; nods towards folk, jazz, ambient, electronica and even a subtle influence of psychedelia. Rose’s song writing draws from a diverse palette of influences, including Building Instrument, Rachel Sermanni, Alabaster DePlume and Broadcast. Rose also professes to a love for beautiful, stripped back, piano based music, such as Dustin O’Halloran and label mate Hania Rani

Caoilfhionn’s latest single ‘Rainfall’ is out now