ALT FOLK BAND with a sultry and ethereal edge

A true highlight of our 2025 festival. The harmonies are rich, sensual, surprising and sublime, the arrangements stunning. An immersive experience.
— Adrian Jones, Director of Cornwall Folk Festival

BIOGRAPHY

Cornwall UK based Wake the River span multiple generations in their ages and influences inviting a fresh fusion with delicate, stand-out lead vocals from Freeborn, sensitive instrumentation, layered harmonies and irresistible grooves.

Lead vocalist Freeborn and songwriter Woodburn explore a blend of folk, blues, funk and pop genres, always searching for where the playful and the ethereal meet. Multi instrumentalists Height and Seddon add to the sonic mix their mastery of folk styles and grooves from around the world. 

Regulars on BBC introducing,  RTÉ Radio 1 (Lilian Smith) and Amazing Radio the band have been live in session on Radio X with John Kennedy. Wake the River has enjoyed prominent live venues including The Bedford in London and the Eden Project and summer 2025 graced the main stage of Cornwall Folk Festival

LIVE

LIVE PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

The Bedford, London

Cornwall Folk Festival

Eden Project, Cornwall

The Acorn Theatre, Penzance

Cornish Bank, Falmouth

Witney Music Festival, Oxfordshire

RADIO PLAY 2024 EP OSPREY

BBC Introducing 9 plays across the EP

Radio X - 8 plays across the EP

Amazing radio 407 plays

Radio Wigwam - 125 plays

RTE Radio 1 - 4 plays

METRICS

Total Spotify streams for EP Osprey over 1,000

Spotify Follower Growth over 12 months +308

2024 EP campaign reached 161,000 accounts on Facebook and IG 

Most streamed video on You Tube Sapphire 31K views

IG growth over last 90 days 120 new followers

VIDEOS

Lamplight from 2024 EP ‘Osprey’

Don’t Bury Me from 2024 EP ‘Osprey’

Osprey from 2024 EP ‘Osprey’

Absolutely exquisite
— John Kennedy, Radio X
One to watch from the Southwest
— Charlie Ashcroft, Amazing Radio