About

“Folk with finesse. ”

— Daily Mail

“Effervescent. ”

— Sunday Times

“An authentic folk voice in a beguilingly contemporary setting. Polly's music has a lighter-than-air quality which I find utterly compelling. ”

— BBC Radio 2

“Polly's highly original and unexpected tune-writing and a take-no-prisoners right hand makes for killer music. ”

— Luke Plumb, Shooglenifty

“She makes the tune come alive. Her playing is fantastic, positive and gutsy. Put simply, traditional players don't come any better than Polly.”

— Simon Mayor

Polly Bolton has been touring internationally in various line ups on mandolin, Irish bouzouki, 5-string banjo and vocals since her teens.

 

Banjo & mandolin player for Shania Twain amongst others, she is known as a powerful performer with a charismatic stage presence and passionate live delivery. 

 

As a session player and a composer, Polly has an innovative approach to writing and arranging. She is influenced by a wide range of musical styles and instruments from across the globe including the American bluegrass and old time tradition, Celtic folk, Eastern European folk, Middle Eastern traditional music, Indian classical music, and metal and progressive rock.

 

Polly is endorsed by Eastman™ and plays an MD815-SB. Polly uses a Blue Chip CT55 pick, Thomastik-Infeld Precision flat wound mandolin strings and is endorsed by Pinegrove Leather for mandolin and Irish bouzouki straps.

 

Polly is one third of power folk trio, The Trials of Cato. The remarkable rise of BBC Radio 2 award winning trio The Trials of Cato on the UK folk-scene has been the subject of massive critical attention. Dubbed "the Sex Pistols of folk,” (J Davis) they pay clear homage to the tradition whilst twisting old bones into something febrile and modern, with stomping tunes and captivating stories. Formed in Beirut, the band returned to the UK in 2016 and set to performing tirelessly up and down the country, leading to BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe hailing them as “one of the real discoveries on the folk circuit in recent times.” Their debut album, Hide and Hair, gained attention in national publications, receives repeated national airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music, and won Best Album at the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.