Seaside Folk: Tony McManus & Julia Toaspern

Their twin guitar treatment of traditional music is unique and each supports the other in exploring the harmonic possibilities of these old, and not so old, tunes. Each of the pair both flatpicks and fingerpicks at the highest level but always at the service of the tune rather than a display of technique. Her violin can effortlessly morph into a fiddle as she weaves from Italian madrigal to Scottish reel. Julia’s songs go to the heart of love and loss, hope and survival and are inflected with musical input from a wide and eclectic experience of musical life. Tony’s and Julia’s arrangements are rooted in deep musicality and heartfelt expression.

Their music is characterized by a seamless blend of acoustic guitar, often with McManus’s intricate fingerpicking and modal tunings, and Toaspern’s ethereal electronics, subtle drones, and atmospheric textures. The resulting sound is a captivating exploration of contrasts—ancient and modern, organic and synthetic—that draws listeners into a world where tradition meets the avant-garde.

Doors & Bar open 6.45 pm Show starts 7.30 pm