Heartfelt contemporary arrangements of traditional British folk songs; vibrant instrumental folk tunes; rapid improvisational bluegrass: Abbey Thomas’s music benefits from a wide pool of influences. Her strong musical rooting within bluegrass and old-time have grown into confident and rich-toned mandolin playing, showcasing high-speed melodic and creative improvisation whilst playing with bands including Flats & Sharps, Old Baby Mackerel, and her own project Blue Lass.
Abbey went on to find inspiration within British folk, studying and achieving a first-class degree in Folk music performance at Leeds Conservatoire, where she discovered her passion for writing enigmatic and vibrant instrumental folk tunes on both the mandolin and the melodeon.
Abbey’s singing, from punchy bluegrass lead and harmony vocals to traditionally-ornamented British folk storytelling, both accompanied and a cappella, and her traditional ballad editing, are designed to pull the listener into the stories, and often to draw attention to feminism through her own retellings of traditional material. Abbey’s performances are dynamic and varied, involving mandolin, melodeon, guitar and vocals, and moving through mixtures of traditional, contemporary and original music from varying folk genres, all knitted together by Abbey’s talent and enthusiasm for each.
Abbey is available for performances both solo and within her various projects, including duos and her bands, Blue Lass (@bluelassmusic) and Old Baby Mackerel (@oldbabymackerel), and is also available as a session musician. She also has a wide range of teaching experience, from workshops within conservatoires to festivals, to regular private teaching in mandolin and guitar to group singing coaching within schools.
Please email on abbeytthomas@gmail.com to enquire about performance, recording, workshop or lesson bookings.
