Jess Morgan and Kitty MacFarlane to play Cambridge Folk Club on Friday

The two folk singers from opposite sides of the country will appear in the venue above the Golden Hind pub on Milton Road.

Jess Morgan is a Norwich-born and based artist with a distinctive voice. The self-taught musician – whose music draws from English and Americana influences – released her debut album, All Swell, in 2010 and since then has released three further long-playing efforts, Aye Me (2012), Langa Langa (2014) and Edison Gloriette (2016) – as well as three EPs.

Based in Somerset, Kitty MacFarlane’s lyrics combine honest snapshots of everyday life with the bigger questions that have for centuries connected minds and voices. She put out her debut EP, Time and Tide, in 2016 and gained her first national airplay on BBC Radio 2’s Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe.

“I don’t know Kitty at all,” revealed Jess, “so this will be kind of a getting-to-know-you-on-the-road tour, which is sometimes a fun way to do it. We were paired up by EFDSS, which is the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

“Their idea was to put artists together who come from different parts of the UK, to kind of swap territories – a bit of an exchange programme, I suppose.”

Hopefully the pair will get on. “I’m sure we will,” laughed Jess, “we’ve got loads in common and I’ve heard really nice things about Kitty so how bad can it be?”

It is important to mention that Jess and Kitty will be playing their own individual sets at the folk club and won’t be singing together.

Jess noted: “I know it’s a bit clichéd but I’m really looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to getting to know Kitty – not just finding out about her music, but about her take on being a touring musician.

“It’s one of my favourite things about meeting other musicians – and I’m looking forward to showing her this part of the world.

“It’s such a lovely audience at the Cambridge Folk Club. I know they’ll give her a great welcome.”

On her plans for next year, Jess said: “I’ve got some things in February and a little trip to the States, but it’s not much because I’m studying. I’ve really cut down on musical things because the course is quite demanding.”

Jess added: “I feel so lucky to be back at school that I just want to give it my all. I won’t be doing a spring tour or that much in the summer. Probably won’t really pick up again until winter 2018.

“It’s not really to do with my music career – it’s a personal thing.”

So for any Jess Morgan fans out there, this might be the only opportunity you get to see her in the foreseeable future.

Catch Jess doing what she does best at the Cambridge Folk Club this Friday, along with Kitty MacFarlane and support act, DoubleKnot.

Jess Morgan and Kitty MacFarlane will at the Cambridge Folk Club on Friday, December 8. 8pm (doors open 7.30pm). Tickets: £11 (door), £10 (adv), £9 (members).

Visit cambridgefolkclub.co.uk.