Keith Donnelly, one of the most popular, and, yes slightly crazy, figures in the folk world, teams up with the scene’s most exciting new voice – Lauren South. Keith’s superb songwriting and guitar-playing too often take a back seat to his onstage madcappery. Not so in this duo (he promises!). Lauren’s stunning vocals on Keith’s songs, her own originals, as well as the odd ‘trad’ song, not forgetting her violin, guitar and Shruti box playing, never fail to ‘wow’ audiences wherever she goes. Lauren, from Rugby, formerly fronted the trio Greengrass, and has a voice somewhere between Kate Rusby and Cara Dillon.

Although this new combo might at first raise a few eyebrows, anyone who ever saw Keith work with Dark Horses, Nothing by Chance, or indeed (back in the day) Waterfall, won’t be too surprised to see him jump at the chance to work with a vocalist like Lauren.

Well we had an absolute ball when Keith Donnelly and Lauren South headlined February’s CVFolk ‘2^nd Sunday’ event at the Albany Theatre, Coventry. Having stepped in at relatively short notice, they performed a flawless and thoroughly engaging set, combining musical finesse with humour and warm audience rapport, proving themselves (if there would have been any doubt) that this is a star-quality act ready to take the folk scene by storm. It was our privilege that this was their first official and pre-advertised duo gig”. – Pete Willow