Award winners with a musical story to tell

Award-winning experimental song and storytelling trio Harp & A Monkey (catch them on November 2 at Wisbech and Fenland Museum) have been pushing the boundaries of traditional music in Britain for more than a decade.

Specialists in poignant and melodic short stories (original and traditional) about life, love and remembrance, their work has been described as “bold and brilliant” by the likes of The Observer, “fantastic” and “fascinating” by Mark Radcliffe on

BBC Radio 2, “inventive” by Mojo and “excellent” by

The Guardian.

For their long-awaited fourth album (The Victorians) they decided to literally mix things up by handing over the final editing and mastering to Darren Jones – the go-to studio engineer for the likes of Stormzy, and a long-standing admirer of this highly individual outfit.

Released on November 25, it features a collection of largely forgotten street, parlour, work, popular and rural songs from the Victorian era that they have reworked for contemporary ears.

The result is a thoughtprovoking and musically stimulating insight into the period, including compelling tales of wife auctions, political corruption, bareknuckle boxers and naked life-savers.

On November 8, • catch Canadian troubadour Mike Evin performing at the Nene Valley Brewery, on Oundle Wharf, as part of his UK tour. He will also be launching his latest album “Evin On Earth” and single “Old Language” on Cairomin Records. “Never lose the romance” - it’s a lyric from Mike Evin’s new album, Evin On Earth, but it’s also a reflection on why he keeps making music.

The Canadian piano-pop tunesmith has been building a loyal following across North America and beyond for over ten years, yet his new music has the feel of an artist still out to discover something fresh, honest and connects with a wider audience.