Introducing… Hedera

Bristol-based chamber folk quintet Hedera perform a mixture of original and traditional music, borrowing from folk music from around the world. Hedera say their music is inspired by different folk traditions: England, Scotland, France, Bali, Georgia, Bulgaria, Ethiopia… and plenty of other places, too. The idea is to translate styles of folk into a glocal folk arrangement, with a hint of minimalism and contemporary folk thrown in.

‘Sterretjie’ is a great example of this approach. The track was composed in South Africa, and is named after terns found along the coastline, which in Afrikaans translates to ‘little stars’. With two violins, an accordion, a double bass, and a clarinet in tow, you aren’t immediately thinking of South Africa. Instead, I’m hearing a mixture of Scottish, French, and English chamber folk. The instrumental has a buoyant, rousing timbre to it. What it lacks in scale, it makes up for with a chirp in its step.

‘Sterretjie’ is the lead single from Hedera’s forthcoming self-titled album. The 11 tracks will contain 5 traditional pieces and 6 Hedera originals and will trot the globe. Some tracks will have vocals, whilst others will include harp, gongs, and a fiddle called a Hardanger d’amore. What a name.

‘Hedera’ is scheduled for release on 20th February 2026. You can pre-order the album on Bandcamp. For more information about the single, album, and their 2026 album launch tour, visit Hedera’s website.

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