When: 7.30pm on Friday 5 October 2012
Where: The Deaf Institute, 135 Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HE

We’re excited to be working with Smoke Fairies for the first time.

Since their 2010 debut album, Through Low Light And Trees, Smoke Fairies’ Jessica Davies and Katherine Blamire have been on an epic journey, both physically and spiritually. Touring Britain, Europe and America; in tour buses, ramshackle vans and even driving themselves 3,000 miles across the US, drawing increasingly devoted audiences with their exquisitely original and mesmerising music.

All these experiences bleed from every pore of their brilliant new album, Blood Speaks, undeniable proof of a tougher and more fearless Smoke Fairies. Suddenly that debut album feels somewhat shy and innocent by comparison, though at the time Through Low Light And Trees certainly cast a powerful shadow, with spectral melodies driven by an uncanny symmetry of sound that reflected the duo’s long friendship. Friends since school in Chichester, Sussex, bonding over their parents’ guitars and Jessica’s mum’s vinyl collection, the pair subsequently lived and worked in New Orleans and Vancouver, met and recorded with Jack White for his Third Man label in Nashville and recorded their debut in a remote Cornish studio – all of which added and embellished their haunting, deep-reaching musical impact.

Head, the venerated producer, returns for Blood Speaks, and their live band was brought in, adding their intuitive version of the duo’s evolving sound.

‘This lovely album is reminiscent of early-70s acid folk, heartfelt and sensual, poised and elegant’ – Mojo

‘A haunting piece of work; spectral song-craft executed beautifully along the border of traditional English folk and Neil Young-esque blues’ – The Fly

‘With healthy lashings of classic folk, Fairport Convention-style, and a twist of the blues, it’s really rather intoxicating stuff’ – NME

Support comes from Bear’s Den, a five-piece folk band from London, founded in 2011 by Andrew Davie and Kevin Jones (both formerly of Cherbourg). While still assembling elements of traditional folk music, their live show incorporates tribal drums, bass guitar, lap steel and banjos. Bear’s Den are the newest addition to the informal roster of artists that falls under the Communion Records umbrella, and will be releasing their first EP early in 2012.

This show is a co-promotion with Wotgodforgot.

Book tickets now. Tickets are also available from the bar, Common (both no booking fee), Piccadilly Records, Vinyl Exchange, Seetickets.com, WeGotTickets.com, Ticketline.co.uk and on 0871 220 0260.

Attend on: Facebook | Last.fm