A Salisbury-based folk duo are about to release their third studio album and will be holding a celebratory concert.

Antoine Architeuthis 37, originally from Doncaster and Owena Archer, 42, from Salisbury are experienced musicians and had been working in the music scene separately for years.

After collaborating on one of Antoine’s solo projects, they decided to form a duo.

They recorded their second studio album in March 2020 and released the single Botany Bay. It reached the top of the Amazon Folk Best Sellers Chart and received critical acclaim.

With a tour lined up, the pandemic suddenly caused everything to come to a halt.

Owena said: “We had our second album launch and a sold-out venue and a week later, we were locked down and the tour was cancelled.

“It was extremely frustrating. We practised our music via Zoom and eventually, were able to practice together outside.”

Their sound is a unique blend of traditional and contemporary folk music with an interpretive folk violin style combined with bouzouki rhythms and folk-rock guitar.

Owena added: “Musicians love performing and need the feedback and appreciation of an audience. It is so nice to now go out and perform.”

Having won the Purbeck Rising Competition at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival in 2017, Owena and Antoine now headline many of the folk and music clubs.

They are supporting the award-winning Oysterband at the Chapel Live in Salisbury on April 29 and launch their third album Clockwork Lens at St Mark’s Church, in Salisbury on May 7.

Tickets for the album launch concert cost £5, plus booking fee, and are available via their website antoineandowena.co.uk

 

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