MUSIC

I started learning my first instrument, violin, in 2020 over the lockdown period after watching Andrew Bird’s tiny desk concert, which I can say now has been literally life-changing. I now play violin, viola, cello, mandolin, banjo, guitar, bass, harp, clarinet, saxophone, glockenspiel, and a little piano, and have toured as both an independent artist & band member.

Always, Rachel

This is the new single off my EP, Whitewater Redwood. I don’t often write love songs (at least, not about people), but after reading through the Dorothy Freeman Collection, I really couldn’t help myself.

Whitewater Redwood

This is my most recent EP, a small collection of songs about the ocean and the sky it comes from. It features 2 original songs, a sea shanty (I can’t help myself) and a folk tune I collected from the seaside woods of the Big Basin.

spencer california

Is my rather silly on-stage alias… It derives from 2 very simple things. My name is Spencer, and most people here (in the UK folk scene) know me as “The guy from California.”

I don’t want to trouble anyone with having to remember much else.

I’ve performed as a solo artist at the Edinburgh Fringe, MCM Comic Con, Fantasy Forest, and several Ren Faires and historical re-enactments. I was recently honoured with the privilege of playing the Redwood Violin at the 80th anniversary of one of California’s beautiful state parks. For the past few years, I’ve also toured around the country at every folk festival from Bristol to Shrewsbury with the Cecil Sharp Ceilidh band as well as guest appearances in other groups like Steamchicken.