"Pen and Stu EPK June 2024
Pen and Stu play original contemporary folk - with BIG whistles and tenor guitars. Their songs, written by Pen, tell stories about famous characters from history and folklore, heroes, villains and pirate queens. They have recently eleased their new album, 'Ravenswood' available on Bandcamp. https://penandstu.bandcamp.com/
What FATEA Magazine says about 'Ravenswood':
"..there's no doubt folk audiences will be setting sail to the addictive rhythm no sooner than the opening notes begin. These songs, performed at festivals, will have audiences tapping toes, clapping hands and stomping their feet, some may also feel compelled to get up and dance. Notorious Tom Lee - I know I'm not meant to have 'a' favourite but hey ho, hey hey ho! This track pulls you in, twists you round the floor a few times and demands you join in with the chorus."
Pen and Stu are the Folkscape Live artist of the month for March 2024. They are in excellent company – the Folkscape Live artist of the month for February 2024, was Seth Lakeman.
They are also the inaugural performers in the Folkscape Live ‘The Black Box’.
Watch their interview and performance here:
https://youtu.be/qtNc1MecYS4?si=FW5KVTWYL3k6tVtk
Following their appearance on Billboard TV. (Ted Stanley Hammond House Publishing Ltd) they collaborated on the theme song for the Hammond House International Literary Festival Literary Prize 2024 and also performed at the Literary Festival this year.
Watch the music video for the theme song here:
https://youtu.be/3w7nId_BcIk?si=pF0Qu32CLfZTD2qr
Live at Black Swan Folk Club Roland Walls City of York Folk Weekend - 'Notorious Tom Lee':
https://youtu.be/sySnMTC5ibc?si=FPRI3HxQQX2UjLgg
Pen and Stu are active on most social media, including posting a ‘Tuesday Teaser’ on YouTube and Facebook - usually a snippet of a song or a whistle tune, usually composed by Pen.
They have played numerous festivals including:
Filey Folk Festival, Alston Live Festival, City of York Folk Weekend York, Whitby Pirate Festival, Gary Stewart's Folk Club At The Mill ft Alex Hart, Tramlines Fringe Festival, Great North Folk Festival, Greenside Festival, Bay Folk Club Folk Weekend, Derby Folk Festival Weekender Fringe, Hutton Rudby Folkfest and numerous other gigs.
Comments and feedback:
Folkscape Live:
"Pen and Stu blend the resonant charm of tenor guitars with the sonorous melodies of BIG whistles, crafting an original contemporary folk sound that resonates with both purists and modern listeners. Their music is a journey through time, encapsulating tales of historical figures, folklore legends, and seafaring tales of pirate queens, all delivered with a heartfelt authenticity and nuanced artistry."
Man in audience at Hutton Rudby Folkfest 2023 to Pen, 'your voice is divine.'
Facebook comment, 'Thoroughly recommend these two, we heard them at Filey.'
Comment on one of their Facebook videos, 'Loved it. Lovely sounding guitars and great harmonies too. Would love to sit and listen to a night with them. 🤩'
David Lepper from Alne Music Club, 'At the Alne Street Fayre yesterday we listened to a mix of artists on the small more acoustic stage along Mitchell Lane. The pick of the bunch for me were openers Pen and Stu, a duo from York who sing their own original songs such as the story of Grace Darling rowing away to save shipwrecked sailors and a true Pirate tale. There were also some interesting covers. Pen has a fine strong singing voice.'
And...numerous lovely comments from the audience, when they played at the Gary Stewart's Folk Club ft Alex Hart, At the Mill Stillington.
Also, lots of lovely comments following their gig at Alston Live Festival.
'Brilliant duo!' - audience member at Booit Straps Folk Club Facebook comment.
More links below – videos and tracks:
New 2024 live performance video showreel: https://youtu.be/JGWrjH-DyCs?si=5yKaw7l9Tyyygk8U
Montage video:
https://youtu.be/gLPZ8YIn9mI?si=VvXHPqu0AFXn6KmF
Pretty bird' is inspired by a Welsh folk tale from the book of Welsh folk tales 'The Mabinogion.' This has been released this as a single! It's on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. It's also on their new album and had a number of radio plays.
Here's the Soundcloud link to the track:
https://soundcloud.com/pen-and-stu/pretty-bird
‘Ravenswood’ live at Filey Folk Festival 2023. This was filmed for The Narrowboat Sessions, and it received 47 thousand views on their Facebook page.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvm3g_fzgBQ
This link is to the video from ‘The Narrowboat Sessions’ - this is 'row to save them all,’ inspired by the life of Grace Darling.
This link is to another video from ‘The Narrowboat Sessions’ - ‘etched in stone’ inspired by life of infamous highwayman, Dick Turpin.
When I was a soldier - written to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War:
https://soundcloud.com/pen-and-stu/when-i-was-a-soldier
'And the boat sails on' - about a rescue at sea. Which is on a compilation album to raise money for the RNLI:
https://soundcloud.com/pen-and-stu/and-the-boat-sails-on
Pen and Stu started playing together in 2014. They released their debut album in March 2017 - “so far…songs of love, loss and pirates” and it received nationwide radio airplay.
“What a great debut album” - Steve Chapman-Smith- Musician half of the duo Hazjak “Great CD, really enjoyed it” - Nick Hall- Musician- Plumhall.
Pen and Stu are enjoying more festivals and gigs in 2024 and are currently recording a new album."
Folkscape Live artist of the month (March 2024)
https://www.folkscape.live/penandstu
Pen and Stu – Yorkshire based acoustic duo – original contemporary folk Pen McFarlane-Bedford – 07917 431382 and Stu McFarlane-Bedford – 07714 309483 Email – penandstumusic@gmail.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/penandstumusic/ Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/pen-and-stu/ You Tube - https://youtube.com/@penstumusic2524 Twitter - @penandstu https://twitter.com/penandstu Instagram - https://instagram.com/penandstu?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== Bandcamp - https://penandstu.bandcamp.com/