Website [Release date 03.10.25]

Over the course of 12 years and five studio albums Ninebarrow (Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere) have earned themselves a reputation for their songwriting, imaginative reworkings of traditional songs, skilled musicianship, and their exquisite vocal harmonies.

Now, on ‘The Hour of the Blackbird’, Ninebarrow have enlisted more than 40 other voices from the Hart Voices (based in Fleet) and the Chantry Singers (from Guildford) to revisit and reenvisage 13 of their songs under musical directorship of Roy Rashbrook, himself a member of the choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Ninebarrow have used choirs before in the COVID lockdown single ‘The Hour of the Blackbird’ which went onto raise over £8,000 for the MIND charity. The success of this album is that the choirs complement the songs, often enhancing the choruses as ‘Summer Fires’ ably illustrates.

‘Nestledown’ takes on a whole new life as the choir sings gently behind the melodious singing of Jon and Jay. A personal favourite, ‘Hey, John Barleycorn’ sounds amazing with the choral parts. A song like this would fit perfectly on a Proms programme of traditional music.

Ninebarrow are one of the most inventive and melodic duos and, more importantly, a joy to listen to time and time again since they started out a decade ago. Quite how they will top this album is for another day (although knowing Ninebarrow they will!), as for now, we can enjoy these songs in all their choral glory. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Tour dates -

4 October 2025 - The Salt Works Sessions, Northwich, Cheshire

5 October 2025 - The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

11 October 2025, The Flavel Arts Centre, Dartmouth, Devon

17 October 2025 - The Brewhouse, Burton upon Trent

18 October 2025 - North Ferriby Village Hall, North Ferriby, East Yorkshire

24 October 2025 - St Edith Folk, St Dunstan’s Church, Cranbrook

1 November 2025 – St James’ Church, Poole, Dorset - ‘The Hour of the Blackbird’ Album Launch Choir Concert

7 November 2025 - Stowe Presents, Stowe, Bucks

8 November 2025 - Arnside WI & Village Hall, Arnside, Carnforth

14 November 2025 - Folk Inspiration, Guildford

21 November 2025 - Harwell Village Hall, Harwell, Oxfordshire

22 November 2025 - The David Hall, South Petherton, Somerset

29 November 2025 - St Endellion Church, St Endellion, Cornwall

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