Watersmeet is Anna Hughes and Jessie Howard. Partners in life and in music, they came together in 2022, to share slow-burning, heartfelt songs with lofty melodies. Interweaving guitar arrangements meet spacious harmonium drones creating a dreamlike yet grounded sound carried by close-knit harmonies. Their music explores ideas of rest and restlessness, nature and wildness, guiding listeners into a space of reflection and reverie.
Having quickly gained a loyal following through extensive gigging in the North East, Watersmeet have made waves with performances at local venues and festivals. Highlights include playing The Glasshouse ICM as part of their BBC Introducing From the Glasshouse programme, a sold-out show at Wylam Brewery supporting The Early Purple, opening for Grammy-nominated Manu Delago and a successful sold-out EP launch in Newcastle alongside their extended studio band featuring Bertie Armstrong (Holly and the Reivers), Calum Howard (Grey Tapes, Ruth Lyon), Francesca Knowles (Grace Petrie, Amy Thatcher and Francesca Knowles) and Ted Harbot (Rob Heron and the Teapad Orchestra). They have also gathered momentum in the UK folk scene, playing various national folk festivals and supporting folk legends Martin Simpson and Kathryn Tickell. Their live shows are known for their intimacy and warmth, capturing the magic of their studio recordings.
Watersmeet’s debut EP, carried away, was released in November 2024, following a highly successful Kickstarter campaign. Supported by Generator's Create:Release programme, the EP has already garnered critical praise and radio play, with tracks featured on BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Radio 6 Music. The duo has also been lauded for their musical potential, earning recognition in the press, with Music Republic Magazine naming carried away EP of the year, as well as naming watersmeet as “best acoustic artist/band”, and selecting them as “hot contenders” for “best new band”.
“Their style is where light meets dark, gripping, thoughtful and packed with poignancy.” - Shakk (BBC Introducing North East)
“Sparkling gem of a debut EP... ones to watch and a shoo-in for major festival stages in 2025, we’d bet.” - Music Republic Magazine
"Beautiful" - Emily Pilbeam (6 Music)
"A lovely, tender and grounding upcoming EP... like a breath of fresh sea air, these tracks are a soothing cleanse for a busy brain", - Narc. Magazine.
Listen Here!
