MFF2027: AK Patterson

Part of Manchester Folk Festival 2027. This show will take place in Victoria Wood Hall within the Hallé St Peter's building. AK Patterson is a London-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends gritty honesty with haunting beauty. Known for her unflinching exploration of dark and complex themes, Patterson crafts songs that find hope in the bleakest corners of human experience. Described by fans as “Buckley with boobs” (in reference to Jeff Buckley), she prefers to label her style as modern chamber pop fused with the melancholic spirit of 90s Lilith Fair. At the heart of her performances lies her compelling storytelling and a powerful vocal delivery—a skill she honed during her youth, playing violin and guitar in the back of an Irish pub. Her distinctive sound is further defined by an unconventional approach to songwriting and her mastery of unusual guitar tunings. Acclaimed actor and musician Johnny Flynn included her in The Guardian’s cultural highlights of 2023 after attending her performance at the Brunel Museum and Guy Garvey on BBC radio said her track The Parting Grace was “a bit special”. 2025 has already been a milestone year for Patterson, with the release of her third EP Jailbird—an evocative collection of songs drawing on themes of organised crime, her time spent working in a men’s prison, and personal struggles with heartbreak and isolation. The EP reflects Patterson’s relentless drive to turn adversity into art. This year, she was invited to support Dan Smith from the band Bastille, who said the first single, I Don’t Know How to Die, from her EP was “hauntingly beautiful”. Her second single Morticia was championed by John Kennedy on Radio X and added to the Independents New Music playlist by Roisin O’Connor who said it was a demonstration of “superb songwriting”. The Return of Rock named has named her “one of the most fearless voices in alternative music” with a “cadence similar to Tim Buckley and Elizabeth Fraser, awash with a purity that seems born from pain”. Patterson’s resilience in the face of challenges has been a consistent theme in her music, evident in her previous EPs Shadows and Mettle, both produced by Mercury Prize-winning producer Charlie Andrew (alt-J, David Gilmour, Marika Hackman). Recorded mainly in complete darkness, Shadows led to a support slot with alt-J, touring the UK and Europe, culminating in two sold-out performances at the Royal Albert Hall. The title track was featured on BBC Radio 6, where Amy Lamé named it one of her “best gigs of 2019” following Patterson’s standout performance at The Great Escape festival in Brighton. Patterson has also garnered attention for her collaborations with renowned drummer Adam Betts (Colossal Squid), known for his work with Squarepusher, Goldie, and Jarvis Cocker, and has contributed to Johnny Flynn and Sivu’s latest records. Patterson reflects on her evolving sound: “These new songs may seem darker than ever, but they are ultimately about survival, resilience, and, above all, hope.”