Alison Cotton has been cited as one of the real singular forces of the “New Weird Britain” scene. I’m not arguing. She’s playing The Lubber Fiend in Newcastle this June.

Originally from Sunderland, but now based in London, Alison Cotton crafts music (yes, crafts!) that feels less like a performance and more like an ancient ritual. What she conjures (yes, conjures!) is a masterclass in atmosphere. Using a combination of viola, harmonium and layered drone vocals, she’s all about long-form folk that feels deeply rooted in the soil and history of the British landscape – or to specific events (her 2024 album ‘Engelchen’ is a stirring tribute to Ida and Louise Cook, two sisters from Sunderland who used their love of opera to help refugees escape Nazi Germany). And, yes, while her work touches on folk’s raw emotionality, she pushes it into some very avant-garde territories, territories that’ll send you to different planes – better planes. Her playing is steeped in endurance and resilience, using loops to build towering walls of sound, moving from delicate, mournful melodies to intense, vibrating drones that can feel physically overwhelming (in a good way). Needless to say, her live shows remove you entirely from mindless infoglut. Remain still, listen, and let the ghosts of the past speak to you via the dark magic she creates. DP

Alison Cotton + support, Friday 19 June, The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle, 7pm, from £9.60, thelubberfiend.com