Samantha Whates and MG Boulter

Don't miss our June session Live at The Old Stables!

Our June session features a truly sensational combination of two singer-songwriters at the top of their games.  Scottish singer-songwriter Samantha Whates and Southend scene veteran MG Boulter first got together as long ago as 2013. That first collaboration resulted in the duo’s debut album together, The Boatswain’s Manual. It was a full six years before they next committed their disparate-yet-complementary ideas to record, for the five-track EP, How to Read (2020). It isn’t really a surprise, therefore, that we’ve had to wait a further five years for the pair’s latest offering, but Flower Days has been worth the wait.

M G BOULTER is a singer and songwriter living on the coast of the Thames Estuary, England. He leads the highly respected UK roots band The Lucky Strikes, and as a much sought after pedal steel and guitar player has worked with Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), and has been a member of US groups The Duke and the King and The Simone Felice Group (The Felice Brothers). He is currently touring in Emily Portman’s Coracle Band and Blue Rose Code.

“Gorgeous, in a word” **** Uncut
“Highly Recommended” ***** Independent on Sunday
“Lovely.. ” **** Mojo
“Brings freshness to songwriting” **** Telegraph
“The best of 2016, no contest” ***** The Morning Star

SAMANTHA WHATES is a London based singer and songwriter. Her beautifully crafted, poetic songs retain a strong affinity with her Scottish roots, cultivating a sound that is thoroughly contemporary, rooted in tradition, yet uniquely her own. Recent performances include sharing the bill with Olivia Chaney Kings Place in May, and the Purcell Rooms in the Royal Festival Hall with Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker. She recently released her debut Dark Nights Make For Brighter Days which has been enjoying both critical acclaim and radio play (BBC 6 Music, KCRW, Resonance FM).

“Her songs made my evening, a rare treat” – James Yorkston
“Just gorgeous” – Tom Robinson BBC 6Music
“Understated, otherworldy…absorbing. The ghosts of Joni Mitchell, Vashti Bunyan and Suzanne Vega whisper their presence.” FATEA Magazine

Doors open at 7.30pm with entertainment starting at around 8pm.