Honey & the Bear have been a tour de force on the UK Folk Festival circuit in recent years. 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, husband and wife team 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), Toby Shaer (Fiddle/Flutes/Whistles) and Archie Churchill-Moss (diatonic button accordion) who feature on all three 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. In November 2023 they released their latest album ‘Away Beyond the Fret’, their most personal album yet, featuring stories and folklore of all things close to their heart including their home in Suffolk, nature, family, history and community. The album has received much critical acclaim including 5 stars from the Morning Star. Shortlisted as FATEAs best band of 2023, they are continuing to enjoy performing their repertoire live as part of their 10 Year Anniversary Tour this year.
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’ has received airplay on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show. Their first full 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.
away beyond the fret
ALBUM REVIEWS
⭑⭑⭑⭑ – R&R Magazine
“the album is a celebration of nature, history, family and community. Truly in the folk tradition.”
Steve Johnson – MORNING STAR – See full review here
““Refined regionally defined music that broadens the horizons of listeners everywhere… The impact of the music is sweet to the ear and informative to the mind.”
David Hughes – Three Chords and The Truth
“Fresh-sounding, slightly genre-hopping and once again deeply rooted in the history, culture and landscape of their Suffolk homeland, Away Beyond The Fret is delivered with the duo’s characteristic elegance and beauty. The highly-talented duo of Lucy and Jon Hart continue to delight and this, their third album, is proof that Honey & The Bear have blossomed into something truly magnificent on the UK folk scene.”
Darren’s Music Blog – See full review here
“Voices to die for, stunning artwork, a beautiful album.”
Chris Baxter – BBC Radio Gloucestershire & Wiltshire Afternoon Show
“Got some new music for you and I’ve been waiting for this for ages with anticipation. It’s Honey and the Bear from Suffolk and they have 2 brilliant previous albums. This is their 3 rd album Away Beyond the Fret – Lucy & Jon Hart joined by some of Sam Kelly’s Lost Boys band.
They write such insightful, well observed story songs – they find some incredible stories.
This is one mind-blowing sea song about a Salvadoran fisherman.”
Tim Walker – BBC Radio Lincolnshire
“‘beautiful songs, gorgeous textures in the instrumentation- they have a lovely warm sound. … they are wonderful musicians in their own right – really hands on – gorgeous harmonising …their music is rootsy, folky but with a real emphasis on heritage and folklore and the vocals are so strong.”
Eve Blair – BBC Radio Ulster/BBC Radio Foyle
‘A spirited hymn to Suffolk, Away Beyond The Fret is a lively set led by Lucy Hart’s strong, melodic voice & backed with a vibrant mix of the couple’s guitar skills” ***
The Observer
“The album is layered and textured, full of beauty and mystery, and subsequent plays reval something new. This is am a;bum that captivates and enchants, and improves with every listen.”
Phil Couch – Essex Folk News Dec 2023
“there can be no denying that the music they produce is of high quality and intelligent, with the complexity present on their first two albums continuing here.”
Glenn Kimpton – Songlines
“Away Beyond The Fret is a polished piece of work, a spellbinding & beautifully honest collection of songs clearly influenced by the aftermath of the pandemic but also by the joys of parenthood & new beginnings.“
David Auckland – FATEA
“Soaring vocals, showing both power & control from Lucy while Jon is a consummate multi-instrumentalist adding superb electric guitar to many of the songs’” ****
Peter Tomkins – RnR Magazine
“There are highlights to be had on each song and an album like this is a joy to listen to and review… Honey and The Bear have done it again by succeeding in melding traditional songs and music with their own modern take on music and lyrics. Their vocals complement each other
perfectly.” ****
Jason Ritchie – Get Ready To Rock
MADE IN THE AKER
ALBUM REVIEWS
⭑⭑⭑⭑ – R&R 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 – See full review here
“You may not have encountered them before, but to paraphrase a quote from another bear and honey partnership, any day spent with them could be your favourite day.”
Mike Davies – Bright Young Folk – See full review here
“Contemporary and catchy but always with a sense of tradition, these eleven songs represent almost an hour’s satisfying, intriguing and enjoyable listening.”
Tykes News – See full review here
“Musically sound, Made In The Aker is a valiant first album that successfully captures Honey And The Bear’s passionate live performance style and will, I am sure, please many..”
Living Tradition – See full review here
“It is their combined vocals, however, that make the album what it is and what it is is a very accomplished debut.”
Dai Jeffries – folking.com – See full review here
“The album sounds great. Jon and Lucy’s excellent voices and guitars are supported by some of Sam Kelly’s Lost Boys … It’s very atmospheric and generally quite delicate, but there’s the occasional thrash…”
Ian Croft – R&R – See full review here
“These songs – all written by the pair – quickly get into your head. Their voices blend well together and there’s a high standard of musicianship, with their playing complemented by members of Sam Kelly’s Lost Boys.”
Fiona Clark – Folk London – See full review here
“The album is wonderfully produced … a possible BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner in the making?”
Tony Bell – Grapevine – See full review here
PRESS
GENERAl REVIEWS
“Their songs are just so comforting and full of hope and love….these two don’t preach, they write about love and both radiate love so authentically on stage like I have not often experienced before. Everyone feels wrapped in by their music and their lyrics, just like they sing in “Ocean”: “And in the dark I’ll find you, wrap my arms around you. When you think hope is lost I’ll let my love surround you.” Just gorgeous. I don’t hear many lines on love that speak to me – these lines do.”
Dagmar Brudnitzki – Fatea Magazine
“Lucy Sampson and Jon Hart have quickly established themselves as a must-see acoustic duo”
Stephen Foster – BBC Radio Suffolk
“Accomplished, easy-on-the-ear acoustic folk-pop for grown-ups”
fRoots Magazine
“Beautiful harmonies and charisma from both aside, they were very obviously enjoying each other’s company which enhanced the atmosphere of the evening … Jon and Lucy spoke, played and sang with ease making it all look effortless …Their lyrics were significant without being contrived, and were enhanced by their storytelling and communication with the audience in between numbers.”
Ellie-Jane Arden – Independent reviewer
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If you are interested in booking Honey & The Bear to play at your festival, special event or venue, please contact them at the following email address honeyandthebearpromotions@gmail.com
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