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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

Bio
Video & Photos

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 

  • Danny Kyle Open Stage Winners 2022​ Celtic Connections

  • Christian Raphael Prize 2018 - Cambridge Folk Festival​

  • Ford Collier - Young Folk Award 2018 Nominee (as part of The Drystones)​

  • Kate Griffin - shortlisted for Young Folk Award 2018, Making Tracks Fellow 2020

Releases

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Listen on:

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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. 

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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

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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

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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

Social links

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