Arthur Coates & Kerran Cotterell are a two-man trad tornado tearing through the folk world with foot percussion, fiddle, guitar, vocals, and groove to spare.
Kitted out with grooving basslines, tight harmonies, and offbeat charm, they’re just a couple of lads with a tangle of strings – yet they somehow summon the sound and swagger of a much bigger band.
Their music blends original compositions with tunes and songs they’ve found in the wild, delivered with harmonies, tall tales, and a streak of serious silliness.
Arthur, a fiddler raised in Aberdeenshire, builds rolling, riff-heavy tunes grounded in his family’s musical traditions and shaped further by studies with Jonny Hardie (Old Blind Dogs). Kerran, a melodic schemer from Cumbria, draws on pop and choral training to weave in crisp harmonies and satisfying twists.
Arthur began playing the violin at the age of seven. He later studied violin and piano at Aberdeen City Music School. He eventually found his calling for Quebecois traditional music, which he continues to chase. He released his debut solo album ‘Focus’ in June 2019.
Musically, they straddle tradition and invention, bridging the folk archive with a fearless modern edge. Some tracks glisten with clean lines and elegant harmonies – crystalline structures that shimmer in the light of contemporary trad.
Others veer gleefully off course, hopping on the blues train for a whistle-stop tour of the Québécois folk line. One moment it’s reels and foot taps, the next it’s jazz chords, pop turns, and grooves that could jump the track and land somewhere between Vulfpeck and Le Vent du Nord.
Winners of the Robinson Emerging Artist Showcase at Canada’s Goderich Celtic Roots Festival, they’re fast becoming one of the scene’s most talked-about acts. Their upcoming album Controlled Burn turns tradition sideways – storytelling with soul, and grooves that smoulder, spark, and occasionally catch fire.
Advance tickets are £16. On the door on the night they will cost £18. There will also be a small selection of tables available.
“World class fiddle tunes, sparky guitar arrangements and songs too: Arthur and Kerran’s performances are powerful and dark,
fresh and fun” – Alex Monaghan, Folkworld Magazine“One of the very best live acts I’ve ever seen – and I’ve seen a lot!” – Mike Blackburn, KCR FM
Tonight’s performance is supported by Arts in Rural Gloucestershire (AIRG), the rural arts development agency.
Event Details
Licensed bar.
Doors Open at 6:45pm.
Show starts at 7:30pm