Not many bands can claim living DNA of their chief influences within their sound but Held By Trees are one. Debut album, Solace features contributions from eight Talk Talk/Mark Hollis alumni, as well as veterans of Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Blur and blues/roots icon, Eric Bibb. Wide critical acclaim followed, and support from Guy Garvey and Stuart Maconie on BBC 6 Music and play on Radio 3. Released in April 2022, Solace charted on the official indie chart (number 4) and physical sales chart (number 23), thanks to press and media support for the fledgling project.
Held By Trees’ live iteration features guitar legend Robbie McIntosh (McCartney, The Pretenders, John Mayer, Talk Talk), Laurence Pendrous on keyboards (Mark Hollis, Anja Garbarek), Paul Beavis on drums (The Waterboys, Andy Fairweather-Low and the Low Riders, Bill Wyman), Andy Panayi on flute, clarinet and sax (Ronnie Scott, McCartney, Hollis). Held By Trees made its live debut in October 2022 and have played in respected venues across the UK, drawing enthusiastic audiences ready to hear exciting variation and improvisation in the performances.
This line-up found themselves at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in late 2022 recording two new EPs, one of live tracks from Solace and one of new music called Eventide, released in the summer of 2023.
2024 saw Held By Trees’ first collaboration with a vocalist; Martin Smith. Lay Your Troubles Down, a near 13 minute epic, was released on 21st June, with two more songs presented as an EP, Held By Trees & Martin Smith in the Autumn, followed by a short tour, including some dates with Martin guesting with the band.
Held By Trees is gearing up to release a second full album, Hinterland, in 2025. The new album features musicians from Supergrass, Slowdive, Swans, Band of Susans, Primal Scream, Wire, My Bloody Valentine as well as the returning Talk Talk/Hollis alumni and Mark Hollis’ son, Charlie. The band are excited to play in new places and continue to make new music.
We are also thrilled to welcome back to open for them the great electric cellist Calum Ingram.
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