Andrews Massey Duo
from the roots...new branches
Photo Credit: I Wei Huang
Blending classical technique with deep folk memory, the Andrews Massey Duo offer a quietly powerful listening experience on their new album from the roots… new branches. Released April 11th, this third studio release from flautist Emily Andrews and guitarist David Massey is a thoughtfully curated journey through the songs of the British Isles, only here, the voices are traded for flutes, whistles, banjos and guitars.
Rooted in the melodies that shaped their upbringings, Emily and David draw from well-known folk standards and overlooked gems alike. Tracks like “Loch Lomond,” “Dance to Your Daddy,” and “Skye Boat Song” are joined by the lively “Dribbles of Brandy” and an unexpected mashup of sea shanties “Drunken Sailor / Wellerman.” Even the politically charged “Cam Ye O’er Frae France” gets new light through a nimble piccolo and banjo duet.
There’s something deeply human in the way the music unfolds, not rigid or over-polished. Instead, these arrangements breathe. Improvised passages dance alongside meticulously shaped phrases. The result is music that feels lived in and quietly confident.
Rooted in the melodies that shaped their upbringings, Emily and David draw from well-known folk standards and overlooked gems alike. Tracks like “Loch Lomond,” “Dance to Your Daddy,” and “Skye Boat Song” are joined by the lively “Dribbles of Brandy” and an unexpected mashup of sea shanties “Drunken Sailor / Wellerman.” Even the politically charged “Cam Ye O’er Frae France” gets new light through a nimble piccolo and banjo duet.
There’s something deeply human in the way the music unfolds, not rigid or over-polished. Instead, these arrangements breathe. Improvised passages dance alongside meticulously shaped phrases. The result is music that feels lived in and quietly confident.
“We didn’t rely on sheet music,” Andrews shares. “This project was about intuition—drawing on memory and letting the music grow naturally.” That instinct-led approach, paired with their formal training at the Royal Academy of Music, gives the album its unique balance: grounded yet imaginative, reverent yet free.
The physical release also offers something special. Each track comes with a hand-illustrated visual created by Cassy Oliphant, a distant relative of Carolina Oliphant—the 18th-century Scottish songwriter behind “Caller Herrin’.” Designed by I Wei Huang, the album booklet works beautifully online as well, bringing depth to the experience with historical notes and artistic charm.
The duo are touring the record across England this summer, kicking off with a launch concert at London’s Hemingford Arms on July 22nd, followed by appearances in Bristol, Bath, and Corsham.
With from the roots… new branches, Andrews Massey Duo have created more than a collection of tunes, they’ve built a bridge between heritage and imagination, allowing the past to speak freshly through the present.
The physical release also offers something special. Each track comes with a hand-illustrated visual created by Cassy Oliphant, a distant relative of Carolina Oliphant—the 18th-century Scottish songwriter behind “Caller Herrin’.” Designed by I Wei Huang, the album booklet works beautifully online as well, bringing depth to the experience with historical notes and artistic charm.
The duo are touring the record across England this summer, kicking off with a launch concert at London’s Hemingford Arms on July 22nd, followed by appearances in Bristol, Bath, and Corsham.
With from the roots… new branches, Andrews Massey Duo have created more than a collection of tunes, they’ve built a bridge between heritage and imagination, allowing the past to speak freshly through the present.