A trio of performers will be in action at the next week’s Folk at the Maltings concert in St Albans

Herts Advertiser: Duo Danny Pedler and Rosie Butler-Hall will appear at Folk at the Maltings in St Albans on Friday, March 3Duo Danny Pedler and Rosie Butler-Hall will appear at Folk at the Maltings in St Albans on Friday, March 3 (Image: Archant)

Singer-songwriter Dan Raza, duo Danny Pedler and Rosie Butler-Hall, and solo melodeon player Saul Bailey will all be in concert at the Maltings Arts Theatre on Friday, March 3.

This diverse and talented group of young performers have all taken part in the St Albans New Roots events in the past, before going on to make names for themselves.

Dan Raza, who was a New Roots finalist in 2008, is considered one of the leading lights on the UK singer-songwriter and folk roots scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVDDsuC5oWE

He has been feted by artists such as Chris Farlowe, Said Cleaves and Jackie Oates, and also had a song included on Neil Young’s ‘Living with War’ website.

Of mixed Indian and British origin, Dan grew up in the Home Counties and moved to London in his late teens.

His distinctive approach has won him many fans in the UK and abroad, as he has taken his songs on the road performing solo and also opening for Joan Armatrading, Badly Drawn Boy, Alejandro Escovedo, Cara Dillon and The Sadies, among others.

Herts Advertiser: Solo melodeon player Saul Bailey will appear at Folk at the Maltings in St Albans on Friday, March 3Solo melodeon player Saul Bailey will appear at Folk at the Maltings in St Albans on Friday, March 3 (Image: Archant)

Dan’s debut album, released in spring 2012, was produced by Charlie Hart and featured stellar guest appearances.

His long-awaited second album, Two, is finished and will be released this year.

It has already had a very positive review from the German web site ‘Hooked on Music’.

Danny Pedler and Rosie Butler-Hall are young folk musicians, with roots based in both English and French tradition.

They formed as a duo in late 2011 and were New Roots finalists in 2012.

Danny, from Essex, plays hurdy gurdy and accordion while Wiltshire’s Rosie plays five-string fiddle and sings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttc3EMS8xd8

Their music is characterised by flowing melodies, intricate harmonies and strong rhythms while keeping the flavour of the traditional style.

They are increasingly invited to perform at folk clubs and festivals, including major festivals such as Sidmouth Folk Week and Shrewsbury Folk Festival.

In 2014, they recorded their taster album Bold with John Dipper in Rosie’s local church in Wiltshire.

Saul Bailey, from Steeple Morden, plays mainly English traditional music on melodeon and English concertina and was a New Roots finalist in 2015 and 2016.

He enjoys experimenting with old and new folk tunes mainly from England, with some influences from overseas.

He describes his repertoire as “a mix of dance stuff, fast stuff, furious stuff and ridiculous stuff”.

The concert starts at 8pm.

Tickets cost £10, students £8, and under-16s £6, on the door or in advance.

Book online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo or by phone on 0333 666 3366.

• For more details, visit www.maltingsartstheatre.co.uk