MFF2027: Kris Drever and Cahalen Morrison

About this event

Part of Manchester Folk Festival 2027 Kris and Cahalen are the ultimate ‘musician’s musicians’ who draw from diverse musical backgrounds but are friends and kindred spirits in their subtle instrumental mastery, evocative songwriting and innovative musicality. Both have carved out a unique place and voice at the intersection of traditional folk and modern acoustic music, digging deep into the well of tradition – those of Scotland and America respectively – whilst pushing the boundaries of intelligent and poignant contemporary songwriting. Kris Drever is among Scotland’s most acclaimed and distinctive contemporary musicians, celebrated for his warm voice, virtuosically expressive guitar playing and imaginative songwriting. Raised in the Orkney Islands, Drever is a renowned innovator as a solo artist and as one third of the award-winning trio Lau. Now resident in Scotland, but hailing from the high desert of Northern New Mexico, Cahalen Morrison is equally at home on guitar, banjo, mandolin, is a captivating singer, whether in three-part harmony or unaccompanied, and an insightful and poetic wordsmith and songwriter. Both artists will be releasing powerful new albums in 2026: Kris’ Doing This For Love and Cahalen’s The Rolling Thunder of The Sea.