Sarah Gillespie & Chris Montague

“Montague is rootsy, fearless… like Mark Ribot.” Jazzwise

“Gillespie is like Dylan on amphetamines.” The Times ★★★★

“Haunting tunes and striking lyrics… yearningly pretty and bittersweet.” The Independent ★★★★★

“Gillespie is a Beat-poet adventurer strays beyond the boundaries of singer songwriter.” MOJO ★★★★

Long-term collaborators Sarah Gillespie and Chris Montague bring their brand-new duo album to the stage for a special November performance at Cluny 2, celebrating its release following recording in a remote cottage on Loch Fyne, Scotland.

Stripped-back, raw and story-rich, this new work moves between folk, jazz, Americana, beat poetry and roots-inflected blues. Gillespie’s incisive, poetic lyricism meets Montague’s inventive, genre-crossing guitar work on electric, acoustic and baritone guitars creating performances that balance intimacy with risk and lyricism with improvisation.

Sarah Gillespie is a critically acclaimed Anglo-American singer-songwriter and guitarist described by The Guardian as “an incandescent presence with superior lyrics.” With five albums, a poetry collection and over 15 years of international touring, she has performed at CBGB’s (NYC), Blue Note Milan, Ronnie Scott’s and the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room, and appeared live on BBC Woman’s Hour and Loose Ends.

Chris Montague is one of the UK’s most distinctive guitar voices. He has been called “The UK’s greatest jazz guitarist since John McLaughlin” (Marlbank) and “rooted, adventurous… like Tom Waits guitarist Mark Ribot” (Jazzwise). Praised by Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Montague is known for his fearless improvisation and wide harmonic palette. He co-wrote five tracks on Gillespie’s previous album Half Cut, and brings a raw, dynamic edge to the duo’s live sound.