Allysen Callery
Allysen Callery is a self-taught folk artist from Bristol, Rhode Island. Growing up, she was heavily influenced by her parent’s British Isles Folk Revival records of the late ’60s early ’70s. Her delicate, mesmerizing sound has been compared to classic British folk artists Sandy Denny and Nick Drake. Billed in Europe as ‘ghost folk’, her haunting vocals and intricate fingerstyle guitar work are considered timeless and enchanting. Winner of the Motif Music awards Best Female Vocalist (Americana) 2019, Allysen tours in Germany and Switzerland, and in the US from Maine to New York City.
Omie Wise
A traditional piece played by Allysen Callery for Bert Jansch
Allysen writes “I taught myself how to sing by listening to Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention, and Jacqui McShee of The Pentangle, as well as Bert Jansch. ‘Omie Wise’ was one of the very first songs I learned to play. As a pretty gothic teenager, I had a penchant for murder ballads. I loved how a folk song could be used to tell a story of warning and news of the time. I loved how Bert’s accent would add a lonely and mysterious magical air, and I was inspired by his fingerstyle and have been a dedicated finger-picker from the start of my guitar journey.”
Allysen recorded ‘Blackwaterside’ for Folk Radio UK, which has been released on an EP.