Who is MIshra?

We formed in 2018 as a creative partnership between Kate Griffin and Ford Collier​

Ford Collier

low whistle, guitar,

calabash, percussion

Kate Griffin

banjo, vocals, dobro, guitar

The University of Sheffield was where we discovered a shared fascination of UK folk music and Indian Classical, and exploring the boundaries of our creative abilities.

We still sometimes perform as a duo. Otherwise we are joined by a collective of amazing musicians we met in Sheffield for quartet and sometimes quintet performances...

John Ball​: tabla, santoor

John is a deeply dedicated musician and teacher, who also plays in Rafiki Jazz amongst other projects. He runs the Sheffield University Indian Music Ensemble, which gave everyone in Mishra their first real introduction to Indian music, and where he shares some of the experience he has gained in 20 years of Indian music study. He is also still teaching most of the band to play tabla. His favourite vegetable is aubergine and he supports Sheffield F.C.

Joss Mann-Hazell: double bass

Joss is a remarkably versatile multi-instrumentalist, who only gets to play double bass in Mishra but plays a mind boggling array of other instruments when given half the chance. He is a fluent improviser in jazz, folk, and beyond, and also writes beautiful music with his band Auka. If you drop him anywhere in the wilderness he can probably find you an edible mushroom.  

Alex Lyon: clarinet, bass clarinet, vocals

Alex started playing with us when we recorded our second album Reclaim, but we're not sure why it took us so long to get her involved. She's doing a masters in performance at Trinity Laban, has serious classical clarinet chops, and combines that with an open-minded curiosity and drive to learn new things that has lead her to a passion for Indian music. On top of that, she has an amazingly soulful voice and a pinpoint-precision ear for harmonies. Alex shares her garden with a family of friendly foxes.