Emily Kelly and Graham Coe are Edinburgh-based duo The Jellyman’s Daughter.
Singing with an affinity and closeness that can often have audiences puzzling over who is singing which harmony line, Emily’s honeyed voice and Graham’s soft introspective tone have an almost matching vocal range. Their songs can range from a simple plaintive wisp of a feeling to imaginative musical endeavours incorporating guitar, mandolin and Graham's distinctive cello playing, which can range from powerful, driving rhythmic folk propulsion to delicate, sonorous post-rock-inspired underscoring. The full band comprises innovative 5-string banjo (Jamie Francis), bass (Leo Bacica), and drums (Ben Collard).
After releasing their debut album - recorded mostly in their bedroom and random unused rooms at university - they wasted no time in embarking upon touring the UK, Netherlands and Germany, as well as touring Canada and playing Folk Alliance International. The debut album was named one of The Herald’s ‘Top 50 Albums’ that year and the duo also won a nomination for Best Acoustic Act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards.
In 2018 they released their sophomore album, ‘Dead Reckoning’; a step forward in maturity in their songwriting and sound, their voices blending as one over a cinematic backdrop of sweeping string orchestra accompaniment. The songs for this album reflect the weariness felt in the country and within themselves in a post-Brexit hangover. They toured the album across the UK and Europe, as well as an extensive tour of the US and Canada.
In 2019 Emily and Graham had their first taste of the outback when they teamed up with Woodfordia and The Festival of Small Halls to tour around rural Queensland and NSW playing to local communities, ending the tour launching the opening of Creative Scotland’s Year Of Scotland at the Sydney Opera House.
Emily and Graham started 2020 in front of a sold-out Celtic Connections crowd and had just set out on their most ambitious tour yet to promote their 2020 EP, Wake-Up Call which had them booked at festivals and shows across the world with dates in the UK, Australia, Europe and America before the pandemic pulled the plug. They were due to play such prestigious festivals as The National and Blue Mountains Music Festival but thankfully managed to squeeze in Port Fairy Folk Festival days before they had to return home.
All was not lost for the year though as they were delighted to be made patrons of Music Venue Trust and worked to help raise money for struggling venues as well as working on songs for the next album.
At the end of the year they released a Christmas album that featured an original 2020-befitting Christmas song with a music video that saw them playing in ten of Edinburgh’s beloved (empty) music venues. The song was picked up by BBC Radio 2, BBC Introducing, and BBC Radio Scotland.
The last couple of years the band have played at SXSW, Costa Festival in Ibiza and a 5 week 5-piece tour of Australia and New Zealand, including Woodford Folk Festival and Auckland Folk Festival.
Emily & Graham are now getting busy putting the finishing touches on the new album - the first with the new line-up - excited to share their best work yet with fans new and old.
“Fans of folk and Americana will be entranced by their music and gorgeous singing… spine-tingling”
Daily Express ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
“A stunning blend of acoustic instruments, sublime vocal harmonies and heartfelt songs”
Northern Sky ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ (Album of the Month)
“Song-writing of the highest order... Exquisite vocals and harmonies, dynamic and expressive cello playing”
The Fountain
Included in ‘The 20 Best Folk Albums of 2018’
Popmatters
Included in ‘One of the Best Albums of 2018’
Indie Acoustic Project