BIO
Mishra are a global folk duo from the UK gathering international recognition, who draw together roots in UK traditional music with continent-spanning musical textures into a multi-limbed virtuoso performance. Performing finely crafted songs with stunning vocals and exhilarating instrumentals, Mishra span eclectic moods; from meditative raag inspired improvisations to high-energy celtic dance tunes underpinned by unstoppable percussive grooves, they create an unaccountably big sound for just two people.
Since acclaimed musicians Kate Griffin (described as ‘one of the top banjo players in the country’ by virtuoso Dan Walsh) and Ford Collier (Young Folk Award Nominee with The Drystones) met in Sheffield over a shared passion for finding inspiration in Indian classical music, their genre defying approach to composition has taken them to festivals around the UK including Celtic Connections and Cambridge Folk Festival, international touring in New Zealand, and cross-cultural collaboration in Mozambique. 2023 saw them win a prestigious Danny Kyle award from Celtic Connections and tour the UK in collaboration with Indian classical/sufi singer Deepa Shakthi with support from Arts Council England.
"Fascinating stuff... I'm really enjoying Mishra's blend"
Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
“An airborne amalgam of cross-continental pollinations … More servings please”
Tim Cummings, Songlines Magazine
“It’s impossible to question the compelling tune-making at the heart of Mishra”
Mojo Magazine
tour history
Aotearoa New Zealand duo Tour
January/February 2024
Whare Flatt Folk Festival
Waiheke Whitaker's Music Museum
Kumeu Kumeu arts
Whangerei The Woodshed
TSB Festival of Lights
Tauranga The Jam Factory
Palmerston North The Globe
Wellington Bluegrass Society
Paekakariki St. Peter's Hall
Auckland Folk Festival
Auckland Movespace Rooftop
Nelson Fairfield House
Golden Bay lunasa festival
Takaka The Mussell Inn
Barrytown Barrytown Hall
Okarito Donovan's Store
Arrowtown The Fork and Tap
Oamaru Grainstore Galley
Akaroa The Grand Hotel
Christchurch Folk Club
Picton Le Cafe
gigs 2022 quartet/quintet
The Unicorn, Abingdon
Ryepiece Barn House Concert, Ettington
The Ropewalk, Barton upon Humber
The Tithe Barn, Nailsea
Pound Arts Corsham
Holmfirth Folk Festival
Northern Quarter, Huddersfield
Nest Collective Campfire Club, Woolwich
Hyde Park Folk Club, Leeds
Stapelford Granary, Cambridge
Cobalt Studios, Newcastle
Castle Hotel, Manchester
The Petri Dish, Aylesbury
Prema Arts Centre, Stroud
Grewelthorpe Village Hall, West Yorkshire
Samaroh tour ft. Deepa Shakthi
Spring 2023
Rondo Theatre, Bath
God's House Tower, Southampton
Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea
Assembly Rooms, Glastonbury
Acorn Theatre, Penzance
Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham
Squire Theatre, Nottingham
Spring Bank Arts, New Mills
The Greystones, Sheffield
Stoller Hall, Manchester
Reclaim Release tour
Autumn 2021
Manchester Folk Festival
Leeds College of Music
Peggy's Skylight, Nottingham
The Green Note, London
The Musician, Leicester
Ashcroft Arts, Hampshire
Forest Arts, Hampshire
Kala Sangam, Bradford
Blue Sky Cafe, Bangor
West Kirby Arts Centre
Shakespeare's Sheffield
The Globe at Hay, Hay-on-Wye
festival highlights
Cambridge Folk Festival
Celtic Connections
Manchester Folk Festival
Shrewsbury Folk Festival
Sidmouth Folk Week
Timber Festival
Between the Trees
Priddy Folk Festival
Purbeck Valley Folk Festival
Awards
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Danny Kyle Open Stage Winners 2022 Celtic Connections
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Christian Raphael Prize 2018 - Cambridge Folk Festival
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Ford Collier - Young Folk Award 2018 Nominee (as part of The Drystones)
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Kate Griffin - shortlisted for Young Folk Award 2018, Making Tracks Fellow 2020
Releases
Listen on:
Abhayam - Without Fear (Single ft. Deepa Shakthi)
2023
Mishra's latest Portishead inspired single features both Deepa Shakthi and clarinetist Alex Lyon on lead vocals. It was born out of the exploration of chordal structures that can be found within such rich and grungy scales. It took them on a journey toward heavy bass synth and electric guitar but remains the textural percussion, santoor and winding melodies of previous Mishra tracks.
Devil's Nine Questions (Single ft. Deepa Shakthi)
2023
"It has one of catchiest openings I’ve heard in a long while, slipping straight into a groove courtesy of Kate Griffin’s cello banjo (a unique instrument hand-made by luthier “Slim Jim” Heasell) with Alex Lyon’s clarinet lending the opening an almost vintage tropicalia edge. Collier’s calabash and John Ball’s tabla are bang on with Joss Mann-Hazell’s intuitive bass driving the groove, while Deepa Shakthi’s enthralling vocals are nothing short of breathtaking. The interplay between her and Kate sounds so natural. Nothing here feels contrived, I take my hat off to them all for such a great single."
Alex Gallacher
Folk Radio UK Song of the Day
Reclaim
2021
Sophomore Album
Distributed by Hudson Records
“Reclaim is a place where Irish tune sessions meet Indian classical music in your front room… energetic and enjoyable throughout.”
Tim Cummings, Songlines Magazine
“It’s impossible to question the compelling tune-making at the heart of Mishra”
Mojo Magazine
“This is the life-affirming sound of the real ‘global Britain’”
Steve Hunt, RnR Magazine
The Loft Tapes
2019
Debut Album
Distributed by Hudson Records
"Fascinating stuff... I'm really enjoying Mishra's blend"
Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
“An airborne amalgam of cross-continental pollinations … More servings please”
Tim Cummings, Songlines Magazine
“It is a powerful and heady cocktail, yet at times almost mystical as well, bringing together the flavours and ingredients of four different continents, and producing a sumptuous feast for the ears… The Loft Tapes has undeniably forced its way into my top ten albums of 2019.”
David Auckland, Folk Radio