Personnel | Biographies | Recordings

Avalonian acapella and gossamer webbed harmonies to dance the dreaming Earth Awake

.... began in 1987 with a collective of musicians brought together to provide the soundtrack for some of Glastonbury's famous community Mystery Plays, in collaboration with local feminist author and playwright Kathy Jones. The name alludes to the Silver Branch that was the ancient bardic staff of office. Through our music we aim to reconnect with our spiritual heritage, honour the ancient archetypes of this land and the inspiration of traditional Celtic forms of music and poetry

The essence of our music comes from sharing chants; carols and songs around the hearth-fire, which laid the foundations for Silver on the Trees, trademark close vocal harmony arrangements. This is underpinned by Lydia's unique shamanic understanding of mother drum trance dance rhythms. In recent years we have been making increasing use of instrumental textures, augmenting the acoustic guitar with Appalachian dulcimer, mandolin, mediaeval pipes and recorders, Celtic harp, violin and 'cello on occasions.

We have three albums currently available through Silver Branch Productions: 'Eye of the Aeon', 'Mystic Spiral', and 'Morning Glory' our latest release. This most recent album is dedicated to the spirit of the land, our ancient heritage, which is the inspiration for all our music. It is a prayer for the restoration of the Goddess to her rightful place, in true balance with the divine male principle, so that we may dance our dreams awake in the wild open spaces in between.... We wish to heal our alignment with this beautiful planet through music and dance, to balance Male and Female, Earth and Heaven, Sun and Moon, Spirit and Matter.

Oshia: Vocals, Appalachian dulcimer, Celtic harp
Dreow: Vocals
Lydia: Mother drums, percussion, guitar, vocals
Tim: Guitar, vocals, bass, keyboards, bazouki
Viv: Mandolin, vocals
Sheena: Vocals, recorder, dancing, cover artwork

Silver on the Tree are frequently joined by:

Tanjy: Vocals & additional percussion
Jim: Flute and backing vocals
Feliks: Violin
Sally: Cello

Members of Silver on the Tree have performed and recorded with the following musicians:

Lydia - Wild Women, Daevid Allen of Gong, Nigel Mazlyn Jones and Court of Miracles (John Cartwright and Jaki Whitren).

Tim - Daevid Allen, Joie Hinton of Eat Static, Kenwyn House of Reef, and the Invisible Opera Company of Tibet

Oshia - Wild Women

Sheena - dancer on Daevid Allen's return from Australia tour and the Invisible Opera Company of Tibet.

Tim, Sheena, Oshia, Viv & Lydia have all performed with the Avalonian Free State Choir

'Morning Glory'

This most recent album is dedicated to the spirit of the land, our ancient heritage, which is the inspiration for all our music. It is a prayer for the restoration of the Goddess to her rightful place, in true balance with the divine male principle, so that we may dance our dreams awake in the wild open spaces in between.... We wish to heal our alignment with this beautiful planet through music and dance, to balance Male and Female, Earth and Heaven, Sun and Moon, Spirit and Matter.

With superb production by Daevid Allen of Gong.