Andy Cutting & Gudrun Walther

The duo of Walther and Cutting brings together two exceptional musicians.

In their home countries, both artists are highly regarded within their genre, having received notable honors such as the BBC Folk Award and the Irish Music Award. Their debut album, Conversations, won the German Record Critics' Award (Best List I/2024).

Their interplay is characterized by empathy and spontaneity. With just a diatonic accordion, violin, and vocals, their minimalist setup captivates audiences with its intensity. They embrace the freedom of improvisation, allowing each piece to unfold in real-time without strict arrangements. Their music flows like a conversation, exchanging thoughts and feelings—an essence captured in the title of their critically acclaimed album.

To interact so freely, the musicians must have complete mastery of their instruments. Nevertheless, virtuosity never takes center stage; instead, the focus remains on the joy of musical exploration. Together, they create an immersive soundscape where the musicians navigate with confidence, inviting the audience to accompany them on this musical journey.

Andy Cutting, a three-time BBC Folk Awards Musician of the year, is a compelling solo performer and works with Leveret, Blowzabella, Topette!, Anne Niepold, and Roger Daltrey. He’s a musician’s musician and one of the folk scene’s most wanted, playing with Kate Rusby, John McCusker, June Tabor and Martin Simpson to name but a few. There is also a growing demand for him to play outside this genre (having recorded with Sting, John Illsley (Dire Straits) and most recently being asked to join The Who for an acoustic concert in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. His style of playing is unique and has audibly influenced more than one generation of box players, which also makes him a popular tutor for workshops and master classes worldwide. He has been teaching the National Youth Folk Ensemble on a regular basis since 2015, He’s also an esteemed composer and many of his tunes are considered contemporary classics on the folk scene.  

Gudrun Walther is one of Germany’s most sought-after and well-respected trad musicians. With various projects, most of all her multi-national band, CARA, she’s touring within Europe, the US and Australia. Together with Juergen Treyz, duo partner and co-founder of German trad band, Deitsch, she’s counted amongst the figureheads of the German folk revival. She won numerous awards with her music and recordings (German Folk Award, German Record Critics Award, Irish Music Award (twice), Freiburger Leiter, Kaarster Stern), guested on many genre crossing albums, performed as a soloist with orchestras and worked as producer and co-producer in the recording studio. In 2016 she was asked to guest with world-renowned Irish band, Téada, filling in for Sligo fiddle master Oisín MacDiarmada. In December 2020, star violinist Daniel Hope invited her along with Juergen Treyz to play a concert in his living room in Berlin, which was broadcast on ARTEconcert throughout Europe. 

"An inspiring, magical and exquisite listen from two of the finest musicians on the European trad scene. The dynamic playing of the fiddle and melodeon is sublime."

Songlines (UK) ***** 5stars

"Two towering musicians at their best." Folk London (UK), *****5stars

"Gudrun and Andy have the enviable and quite magical knack of absolutely spellbinding the transfixed audience, which has them wanting more of their amazing music."

Folk Wales (UK), *****5stars

"a touching and inspiring folk album" Concerto (A) *****5stars

"A sublime and wonderful album. " R’n’R (UK)

"This all fits together so beautifully that you can't help but listen to these fifty minutes again and again with complete pleasure." Roots Time (B) 

"As one can expect from musicians of this class, 'Conversations' is a masterful album across the board." FOLK Magazine (B) 

"An album of spontaneity and joie de vivre." 5 Planètes (F)