White Sail / Heather Findlay

The Black Swan Inn, York

12 December 2025

I've seen White Sail before and I know I will enjoy their set, but I guess it's not going to surprise anyone if I admit I'm here because the opening act tonight is Heather Findlay. I don't know how long she will play but I'll be happy with anything, I've seen her play support spots before and even 20 minutes would be worth the journey.

So Heather's set is an hour long, and I'm happier than I could have imagined. It's just Heather solo, so the set leans towards her Wildflower songs, which she can sing with just a guitar or even with her unaccompanied voice in some cases, and so it's not vastly different from the shows she's played previously this year. But there are enough (very welcome) surprises to make the set unique. In a nod to the season we get Mostly Autumn's Winter is King (minus the long closing instrumental section of course), and a spellbinding, unaccompanied Silent Night. Less seasonal but unexpected and very welcome is Bitterness Burnt, and just when I'm realising I'm going to miss the flute solo ... she sings the flute solo. Heather is perfect.

The hour goes by too fast, but this is already the best concert I have ever seen, even before she gets to the Evergreen/Shrinking Violet medley.

Before I get to White Sail, I have to say something about the venue. The Black Swan Inn dates back to the 17th century and has all the character that suggests, and the cozy upstairs room decorated for Christmas provides the perfect atmospheric setting for cozy seasonal music. Downsides are the traffic noise from outside (no sound proofing in a listed building!), but the sound inside is loud enough (and perfectly balanced, quite a feat with the multiple instruments used by White Sail) that it's never an issue. The painfully uncomfortable seats are more of an issue!

White Sail open their set with an a capella Sol Invictus, which is just stunning. The last band I heard tackle this was Kalandra, and when I tell you that this version left Kalandra's in the dust, you'll get some idea of just how good White Sail are. A trio of singers and multi-instumentalists, with a mix of traditional and original songs, this band is unique in my experience. Not quite pure folk, but also not folk rock, something completely different. Gryphon are name-checked as an influence by Sarah Dean, and honestly that might be the best point of comparison for the musical spirit of White Sail. Constantly switching instruments and lead vocalist gives every new song its own unique sound world, whether it's ultra-traditional versions of Christmas carols or new songs written by the band, it's all beautiful and superbly played. I'd forgotten how good they were last time I saw them, and I really should see them more.

After an hour and a quarter of stunning music, they welcome Heather back to the stage for another handful of songs, beginning with Heather's I am Snow, a full band version complete with harp intro, a trumpet solo, and all four voices harmonising.

An evening of great music, great musicians, a great atmosphere, and Christmas songs. And Heather. What more could I possibly ask for?