Sally in the Woods
Sally in the Woods is a coming together of Sophie Bostock (Vocals, Banjo, Mandola,Guitar), Rosie
Brownhill (Accordion, Whistles) and Pheobie Ophelia (Percussive Dance, Voice) to radically retell the
stories passed down through the English, Scottish, Irish and American folk traditions, focussing on the
strong women that have carried us to where we are now. With their unique approach to song
accompaniment and ”Bostock’s charming, idiosyncratic vocal style” (Jon Wilkes, Tradfolk) they dance
new life into old songs.
Liverpool born Singer and Mandola player Sophie Bostock brought Sally in the Woods into being in
Spring 2022 after spending the lockdown living on a narrowboat on the Canals and Rivers of south west
England. Sophie spent the previous year in Dublin studying traditional Irish music and honing her singing
skills. The return to the river provided the perfect place to delve deeply into Traditional music archives.
Sally in the Woods both lends its name from and is ideologically inspired by Sally Gibson, a herbalist who
squatted a cabin in the woods near Bath in the late 1700’s. Due to this worthy woman’s healing abilities
and feisty independence, she was dubbed a witch, and lived alone in the cabin until she was very nearly
100 years old.
Tue 4th August, 4pm Cellar Bar