Honey and The Bear
Honey & the Bear were a tour de force on the UK Folk Festival circuit in 2022. The British folk and roots duo combine delicately interweaving vocal harmonies with emotive and evocative songwriting. With a diverse range of sounds and textures, and rhythms that flow from the fast and furious to gentle ballads, their live performances are spirited and dynamic. Conjuring stories in song, they tell tales of Suffolk folklore, courageous people they admire and their passion for nature which has been enchanting audiences up and down the country.
The multi-instrumentalist pair, comprised of songwriters Jon Hart (guitar, bass, bouzouki) and Lucy Hart (guitar, ukulele, bass, banjo, mandolin & percussion), are often joined on-stage by band guests Evan Carson (percussion) and Toby Shaer (Fiddle/Flutes/Whistles) who also feature on both Honey & The Bear studio albums. Together they have played at many revered venues and festivals across the UK as well as travelled across the channel for their first European tour. They supported Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys on two UK tours and opened for The Shires at world renowned Snape Malting’s Concert Hall. They returned to Snape Maltings under their own steam just two years later to perform a sold out show.
2020 and the onset of the coronavirus pandemic saw the duo grounded and all gigs cancelled, but their music prevailed in the form of Sunday night facebook livestreams of which they performed thirty-two throughout the year 2020. After challenging themselves to write a new song for the first 12 weeks of the livestream, they successfully managed to produce a second album. ‘Journey Through the Roke’ was released on 23rd April 2021. The album features many talented musicians including Toby Shaer (whistles, harmonium, flute, fiddle, bass), Evan Carson (drums, bodhran, percussion), Archie Churchill Moss of Moore Moss Rutter (melodeon) and Graham Coe of The Jellyman’s Daughter (cello). Journey through the Roke received airplay by Mark Radcliffe on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show.
Their debut studio album ‘Made In The Aker’ (released July 2019) was followed by a UK tour as a four piece band in October 2019. The album was well received by both their ever growing fan base and the critics.
Born and raised in Suffolk, Lucy learned violin and drums at school, sung in the Suffolk Jubilee choir and started songwriting at age 15. She taught herself guitar whilst at university in Canterbury, and began performing her creations not long afterwards. At 27, she released her debut band album ’Step Right On’, songs from which you now hear her perform with Jon.
Jon, a Yorkshire boy, raised in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, has been performing his own songs since his teens. A self taught guitarist, his love of driving guitar riffs is a core aspect of his song writing process. He has released three band albums, the latest of which was entitled ‘Level with me’, featuring ‘wristburner’ which is a gig favourite.
“Lucy and Jon’s vocals are gentle, rich and mellifluous throughout… This is an accomplished album from a masterly duo”
Nygel Packett, Folk London Magazine
“Dexterously played with beautifully crafted arrangements around a perfect pairing of voices delivering personal fine songs this is a stunning album.”
Marc Higgins – FATEA
“This album is one of the clearest recordings I’ve heard in a decade, holding its head above the roke and into the sunlight on every track”
Seán Laffey, Irish Music Magazine
“The vocals of Lucy are as beautiful as ever….and she is now one of this country’s best folk singers”
Stephen Foster, Radio Caroline & EADT
