The Black Feathers

The ability to write songs that are both modern and ancient is a rare thing — an arcane art of weaving in traditional influences so thoroughly that they become the warp and weft of fresh creations. Such is the magic of the Black Feathers, the UK duo of Ray Hughes and Sian Chandler. They first became aware of the chemistry between them while collaborating on several musical projects, becoming the Black Feathers and life partners in 2012. Americana, folk, and acoustic indie rock sensibilities coexist comfortably in their musical world, with Hughes’ guitar work buoying the kind of harmonies often only heard in family bands. Having already built up a loyal following in the UK, they have been spreading their wings across the U.A., winning over crowds at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Kate Wolf Music Festival, and AmericanaFest. “Once in a blue moon, the whole soars far above the sum of its parts. That’s what happens when The Black Feathers perform live,” observes North Carolina’s Black Mountain News, and No Depression favorably likened Chander and Hughes’ “stunning harmonies” to those of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, while back in their homeland, famed BBC Radio 2 host Whispering B

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