INTRODUCING

HONEY & THE BEAR
SEE ALBUM REVIEWS

Honey & the Bear were a tour de force on the UK Folk Festival circuit in 2022. 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 pair, 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) and Toby Shaer (Fiddle/Flutes/Whistles) who also feature on both 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 for their first European tour. They supported Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys on two UK tours and opened for The Shires at world renowned Snape Malting’s Concert Hall. They returned to Snape Maltings under their own steam just two years later to perform a sold out show.

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 received airplay by Mark Radcliffe on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show.

Their debut 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.

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

GET IN TOUCH

CONTACT US

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

FOR ANY

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Please contact 

Jane Brace PR 

janebracepr@btinternet.com

+44(0)1243 789554