Around About Dusk
Around About Dusk are an adventurous musical project creating original songs with influences ranging from musette, New Orleans jazz and blues, old-time and European folk and roots traditions, brought to life with eclectic instrumentation and rich vocal harmonies.
Haunting melodies, tightly woven harmonies and stories of wonder, nature, and humanity, shifting around like growing shadows with echoes of cabaret, chanson, early jazz, and folk make their sound. With harmonies, macabre humour and folkloric storytelling, their music conjures the romance of old cafés, the spirit of New Orleans porches, and the intimacy of campfire songs, with touches of macabre humour and familiar folklore tales.
Formed from a journey through New Orleans, busking festivals across Europe, and intimate campfire shows in England, Around About Dusk bring warmth, charm, and authenticity to every stage.
Their work has featured on BBC Radio 6 Music and been highlighted as a Fresh Fave on Fresh on the Net and they have been shortlisted for the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award in November 2025. At their core a five-piece ensemble, their debut album releasing in 2026 – an ambitious project supported by Help Musicians—features widescale collaborations with acclaimed guest musicians and vocalists. Their brand new album, Sweet Old Fables, is releasing in 2026.
With performances at festivals including Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, Bristol Folk Festival, and Secret Garden Party, as well as European tours such as Ballydehob Jazz Festival (IRE), Ferrara Buskers Festival (IT), and Neuchâtel Festival (CH), Around About Dusk bring a distinctive, memorable presence to every stage, enchanting audiences with a sound that is warm and unique.
We’re excited to announce that Around About Dusk has received a grant from Help Musicians to record their debut studio album in June 2025 and set for release in 2026. Around About Dusk has been shortlisted for the peter whittingham jazz award in 2025.
Their abilities are clear (and considerable); but here on their own material they deliver a set that though informed by early jazz and classic blues, has a range of light and shade greater than the former and more like the range of emotions in the latter.Haunting melodies, tightly laced harmonies and rich vocals weave stories about wonder and nature with echoes of cabaret, chanson, early jazz and folk shifting around like growing shadows. Could be a new favourite band for you…
Steve Henwood, Programmer Glastonbury Festival (UK)
There’s an idiosyncratic feel to their sound that’s refreshing and the delivery sounds effortless. It’s playful and fun. Tom Robinson’s Fresh on the net BBC Radio 6 review.
Describing Around About Dusk as ‘utterly charming’ sounds a bit like a put-down but it really shouldn’t. They’ve absolutely nailed that French café musette sound thanks to Gus Dolding’s sinuous clarinet, judicious swirling accordion from Rachel Lawrence and an all-round proper sense of swing. Does ‘jaunty’ sound any better? They have ‘jaunt’ aplenty, whether in the intricate arrangements, economic soloing or insouciant lyrics delivered with Rachel’s easy grace, helped by a nice mix of two-step, waltz and tango grooves. – Tony Benjamin B24/7
