The Apple Sellers are a contemporary folk duo from Manchester that blend elements of modern classical and traditional folk and spiritual music to create captivating musical performances. It is a unique approach that has seen them gain standing ovations at both folk festivals and classical music events.
The duo consists of the acclaimed musician and storyteller Martin Purdy, frontman of the award-winning folk trio Harp & a Monkey, and gifted multi-instrumentalist Ian Mayer (#halfblindbassist) from Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. The pair, who first met in (and continue to meet in) a community orchard, bonded over a shared passion for the power of musical storytelling. The result is an evocative sound underpinned by piano, double bass, harmonium, shruti box drones and strong harmony vocals.
“Folk music deconstructed, reimagined and reassembled with a soupçon of Indian secular drone, a pinch of Gorecki, Riech, Glass minimalism, and a passing nod to La Monte Young, accompanying lyrics of dark, strange, humorous tales. Original, rewarding, entertaining, catch if you can.