Nuala & The Alchemy Quartet

Nuala & The Alchemy Quartet, putting the sass in folk.
The Alchemy Quartet is a collaboration of front woman 23-year-old roots folk singer/songwriter, Nuala Honan, originally from South Australia, Devonian rhythm section Laura Marshall and James Bennetts, and Wilts lass Elizabeth Westcott on violin. With their debut album ‘Lost Cabaret’, recorded by Portishead’s Jim Barr and released earlier this summer, and a prestigious slot on the Glastonbury Avalon Stage, this young ensemble boast a style founded on roots music. The group aims to keep the sentiments of folk alive whilst injecting some ‘Sass’, taking it to more accessible new heights. Although the music also incorporates the grooves of funk and the catchiness of pop, Nuala & The Alchemy Quartet prefer to file their unique sound under ‘Rural Music’ - the antidote to the all too prevalent genre of music that is known as ‘urban’.
2008 has been a very successful year for Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet, with the release of their first album, ‘Lost Cabaret’; appearing at several reputable festivals in the UK such as a prestigious slot on the Avalon Stage at Glastonbury Festival, Larmer Tree Festival (for the fourth year running), Main Stage at Beautiful Days Festival and Shambala Festival. They have supported some great acts, UK artists Smerins Anti-Social Club, King Creosote, Eddi Reader, 3 Daft Monkeys, Aussies Ash Grunwald and Xavier Rudd, and early in her career Nuala had the privilege of supporting The Blind Boys of Alabama. Their fan base has increased rapidly as the music has stretched from Australia to Great Britain, Asia, and Ireland.
A soulful artist with a knack for writing compelling, relevant and passionate songs, Nuala cuts a charming figure; all frothy hair, winsome smile and boundless energy. A skilled storyteller, her songwriting has been described as “confessional lyricism, offering, through her astonishing poetical dexterity, a frank and insightful vision”. With a voice that can hold a crowd enthralled to the last breath (then smack you round the ear when you least expected it), and her engaging personality, Nuala wins over the crowds effortlessly.

Each of the four distinct personalities bring something new to the stage to create a captivating sound that has finally been captured on Nuala and the Alchemy Quartet’s new 10 track LP, ‘Lost Cabaret’. The album was recorded predominantly live in J & J Studio’s in Bristol with Jim Barr (former engineer for Goldfrapp and live Portishead bass player) and Jeff Spencer (who has performed with Pee Wee Ellis and Geoffrey Oryema, among others) on the mixing desk. There is a charming naivety and honesty in the album, which up until now has only been achieved on stage by this quartet. It’s refreshing to hear that translate to their latest record. If the aim is to get your body moving and stir your heart, Nuala & The Alchemy Quartet have succeeded with ‘Lost Cabaret’, and done so with great style.
Nuala & The Alchemy Quartet offer a show full of personality absorbed in a tight zealous mix of genre bending arrangements. The sassy vocals accompanied by fiddle and the overall percussive style of the music, demands the absolute attention of any audience.

Press:
"As if that wasn't enough quality for one evening, we had a superb debut from Nuala Honan and her band. You may not have heard of her yet, but you will. Nuala is a really talented songwriter with a cracking young band behind her. Her engaging personality and boundless energy soon had the crowd behind her and it was the perfect up-tempo finish to a delightful weekend. She has the Show of Hands lads acting as personal mentors, so I think we can all assume that she's here to stay!" – Mutiny Music
“These tracks continue the extremely powerful delivery that Nuala can be proud of. Personally, I feel that power is strong enough to start to change the face, and direction of World Folk Music. Yes… Nuala really is that good. Soon, the imitators will abound, but Ms. Honan is the original.”
mikethebeehive@tinyworld.co.uk

"The ARC tent drew a massive crowd to watch Nuala Honan and The [Alchemy Quartet]. The lead singers vocal range and ability was nothing short of blinding as happy punters danced the last leg of what was simply a perfectly magical festival." – Larmer Tree Festival Review
“They were a five piece band with electric fiddle, bass, drums, percussiony bits (was the chap on the tom-toms really playing a wok at one stage?) and the charming Nuala herself - all frothy hair, winsome smile and a voice that would smack you round the ear when you least expected it. Part KT Tunstall, part Sandy Denny, with a little bit of early Alanis Morrisette thrown in - the songs were their own, they were varied and delivered with superb confidence.” – fROOTS Magazine
"closing act newcomer Nuala Honan, and her talented Retrobates, who had the crowds screaming for more" – Larmer Tree website
"This is just one of the finest bands anywhere, Nuala is an exception