The Breath

The Breath is the duo of Manchester-based singer/flautist Ríoghnach Connolly with guitar whiz, Stuart McCallum. Connolly is Armagh-born with a remarkable and distinctive, stop-you-in-your-tracks voice and a deep elegiac sensibility. From jazz beginnings to alt folk and electronica, McCallum is an in-demand guitarist combining both acoustic and electronic instruments to give his music a distinctive sound. The Breath have released three albums on Real World Records, two with a full band complete with mesmerising guitar riffs, expansive arrangements and layered vocal harmonies, the other, stripped bare in a duo setting allowing the depth and beauty of their heartfelt songs and Ríoghnach’s impassioned voice to shine through. They triumphed at the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards where Ríoghnach bagged the Folk Singer of The Year award, while the duo was nominated for Best Duo/Group.