FOLK duo Coates and Cotterell, whose influences range from Shetland and around the British Isles to Quebec are coming to Dorset with Artsreach with gigs at the village halls at Shipton Gorge on Thursday 27th February, Milborne St Andrew on Friday 28th and Woodlands on Saturday 1st March.

Arthur Coates and Kerran Cotterell are an exciting and energetic young folk duo who are quickly carving out a name for themselves with their unique style, rooted in Quebecois traditional music, fused with songs from around the British Isles and North America.

Hailing from Aberdeen, Arthur Coates studied violin and piano at the Aberdeen City Music School. Now an acclaimed UK award-nominated fiddle player, Arthur boasts an expertise in Shetland and Quebecois traditional music, blending the energy of podorythmie (foot tapping) with his ferocious fiddling.

Guitarist Kerran Cotterell is a melodic guitar player who has garnered numerous plaudits having performed at Cambridge Folk Festival and the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall.

Together Arthur and Kerran produce a versatile mix of instrumentals and song, true to the roots of traditional music and featuring fiddle, guitar, bouzouki and feet percussion. The visit to Dorset follows the recent release of their debut album, Music for Cows, and these are their only current dates in the region. So catch these rising folk stars when you can – and you don’t have to take a cow along!