Fran & Flora presents… with Cerys Hafana
Fran & Flora present the second in a 3 part series of performances at Servant Jazz Quarters, Dalston, with Cerys Hafana.
Cerys Hafana is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who mangles, mutates, and transforms traditional music. She explores the creative possibilities and unique qualities of the triple harp, and is also interested in found sounds, archival materials and electronic processing. She comes from Machynlleth, Wales, where rivers and roads meet on the way to the sea.
Edyf is her second album, released in 2022, and was selected as one of The Guardian’s Top Ten folk albums of 2022. In January 2023, Cerys was also featured on Cerys Matthews’ BBC 6 Music ‘Highlights of 2022’ New Year show.
“Brilliant triple-harpist Hafana continues to dig deep to explore the possibilities of her instrument, as well as neglected corners of Welsh song that speak to our anxious present” – Jude Rogers, The Guardian
“Music that’s both progressive, profound and inspiring” – Alex Gallacher, Folk Radio
“Cerys Hafana has time: time to express her ideas through the medium of her instrument, time to create atmosphere, time to follow her imagination, but most importantly, time to let the music breathe” – Tomos Williams, O’r Pedwar Gwynt (translated from Welsh)
Multi award-nominated duo Fran & Flora captivate audiences with world-class performances of music from across eastern-Europe. Comprising of Francesca Ter-Berg (cello/vox/electronics) and Flora Curzon (violin/vox/electornics), this ever-evolving collaboration is born out of a long-standing friendship and shared passion for traditional music and improvisation. Their compositions and unique arrangements stem from the modes and melodies of Yiddish traditional music, Klezmer, Romanian and Transylvanian music.
Unfurl, the debut album by Fran & Flora (2019) was received with critical acclaim: ‘Border-defying’ – Mojo; ‘An album of beguiling beauty’ – The Wire; ‘Brave and classy’ – Robin Denselow, The Guardian. Incorporating tunes and songs collected on their travels across Europe, the album was the culmination of three years studio work with producer Sam Beste (The Vernon Spring / Hejira) experimenting with interweaving textures and layers, electronics and analogue processing. They will release their self-produced 2nd album ‘Precious Collection’ in Autumn 2023.
Fran & Flora have been supported by PRS Women Make Music, Help Musicians UK and the Arts Council England, and have sold-out venues including Kings Place and Cafe Oto (London), The Cube (Bristol), Cobalt Studios (Newcastle), Kitchen Garden Cafe (Birmingham), Shambala Festival, EFG London Jazz Festival, Shtetl Neukolln (Berlin), and Ancienne Belgique (Brussels). The duo are currently hosting an artist-residency at the boutique Dalston venue Servant Jazz Quarters showcasing their new material and that of esteemed colleagues and friends in the folk & alternative/experimental British scene.
‘Border-defying‘ – Mojo
‘vibrant, mournfully expressive, and creatively imaginative‘ – Line Of Best Fit
‘Indisputable virtuosity and a down-to-earth gleefulness‘ – Songlines Magazine
‘An album of beguiling beauty‘ – The Wire
