The Rowan Tree formed in 2017 during the Pan Celtic festival in Ireland and released their first self titled and produced EP in April 2018. The Rowan Tree won Kan Rag Kernow 2018 with their song Tresor and returned to the Pan Celtic placing 2nd in the International Song Contest after a dramatic 1st place tie break situation with Ireland. In May 2018 they became the first Cornish act to win Liet International with their song ‘Tresor’, and the first group selected to represent Cornwall since Gwenno in 2003!
The Rowan Tree’s members are- Tom Fosten-guitar/mandriola, Richard Trethewey-fiddle/cittern/vocals, Laura Garcia-flute/accordion/vocals, Neal Jolly-bass/whistles/vocals, Richard Morgan- drums.
Their musical style draws from the folk traditions of Cornwall but with a fresh take on the traditional, building in other influences such as world music, or jazz. With a passion for the music of Cornwall and its language, The Rowan Tree seek to introduce new audiences to their rich and vibrant local culture.
In 2019 the band completed their most ambitious project to date, Kolar’s Gold, a mixed media project designed to tell the forgotten stories of Cornish miners at the Kolar Gold Fields, southern India. Kolar’s Gold saw the band pushing the boundaries of traditional Cornish music, weaving it together with Indian classical music to produce a truly unique album for Cornwall. Kolar’s Gold is an album that transports you from the rugged cliffs of Cornwall to the vibrant streets of India. Rooted in the folk traditions of Cornwall and Karnataka, the album features over 60 musicians and was a close collaboration between The Rowan Tree and musicians in India. The eight varied tracks paint a picture of a time when Cornish and Indian families lived side by side at the Kolar Gold Fields, South India. Kolar’s Gold is an extraordinary achievement for a band that has proven time and again its ability to transcend the defining limits of genre whilst staying true to their passion for representing Cornish music and culture on the international stage.