Leveret

'You won't find English folk music played better than this' – R2

Leveret is a unique collaboration between three of England's finest folk musicians. Andy Cutting (button accordion), Sam Sweeney (fiddle) and Rob Harbron (concertina) are each regarded as exceptional performers and masters of their instruments. Together their performances combine consummate musicianship, compelling delivery and captivating spontaneity.

Leveret’s music is not arranged in the conventional sense and the trio rely on mutual trust and musical interaction to create new settings of their repertoire in the moment, with no two performances alike. Their playing is relaxed and natural, drawing audiences in and inviting them to share in music making that is truly spontaneous and yet deeply timeless.

Fiddler Sam Sweeney was the 2015 BBC Folk Awards Musician of the Year and the inaugural Artistic Director of the National Youth Folk Ensemble. He is known for his work in Bellowhead and The Full English, and his solo albums The Unfinished Violin and Unearth Repeat.

Melodeon genius Andy Cutting, a four-time BBC Folk Awards Best Musician, is a compelling solo performer and works with Blowzabella, Topette, June Tabor, and Roger Daltry.

Concertina wizard Rob Harbron leads the English Acoustic Collective Summer School, released his own solo album Meanders in 2019, and is known for his work with The Full English (Best Group and Best Album BBC Folk Awards 2014), Emily Portman and Emma Reid.

Leveret's music is firmly rooted in the English tradition but sounds fresh and new. With their first four albums and over a long string of sell-out gigs, the trio have built a strong reputation as superb musicians, fine tunesmiths and captivating performers. Their recent release Variations Live showcases their trademark groove, energy and intuitive playing in a set recorded live during the last few gigs they did before lockdown in 2020 – truly great music from a band at the top of their game.

'Inspiringly good' – fROOTS

'In folk music you need to hear the human. Leveret have got that trance-like thing – I’ve taken people to Leveret concerts who don’t necessarily have an interest in folk and they’ve totally got it. There’s so much in those tunes and it takes real skill to see it and bring it out. There’s a variation there between the three of them that goes on constantly. Even if you don’t appreciate what traditional music is you can still be blown away by it...' – Verity Sharp [BBC Radio 3 Late Junction]

'The intimacy and the intensity of this in the round experience was unlike anything I had heard all year. In folk, it’s the sound of what’s to come' – TheArtsDesk.com

'Music of a rich, sinewy immersion, guided by a mutual sense of exploration, space and a very English kind of swing. It’s an intimate, contemporary reinvention of the source material' – The Guardian

'This glimmering set of instrumentals cuts unfailingly elegant lines' – The Sunday Times

'Sublime, exquisite music – don't miss them' – Martin Simpson

Read Leveret's interview with Tradfolk on celebrating 10 years as a trio here