Hailing from a small Devonshire village that is tricky to pronounce, Cole Stacey is a visceral and lyrical songwriter, singer and musician who has roamed the highest echelons of British folk, 80s pop, spoken word and ambient electronics. From The Royal Albert Hall to The Westfalenhalle Arena, 700-year-old castles in Gdansk to Glastonbury Festival.
“Soft, pop-aware voice describing a life alive with motion”
– The Independent
As one half of alt-folk duo India Electric Company alongside Joseph O’Keefe, Cole has recently been found on prime-time live sessions for BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music live sessions, at Glastonbury Festival and they’ve enjoyed BBC Introducing’s backing with KLOF declaring them “one of the truly pioneering acts in folk music”.
“A magnificent sound”
– Patrick Kielty, BBC Radio 5 Live
Since 2015 Cole has been accompanying legendary pop icon Midge Ure on everything from mandolin to bass guitar, analogue synthesizers to vocals, across sold-out tours of Australia, New Zealand, UK, Scandinavia and Germany. Shows with Human League at Hammersmith Apollo and headline concerts at The Royal Albert Hall have been plentiful in recent years.
“Cole’s soaring vocals were a highlight of an electrifying performance, nothing short of mesmerizing”
– Scottish Music Network
With explorations into traditional songwriting in his blood, Cole released his extraordinarily honest debut album Postcards From Lost Places in early 2025 to audiences far beyond his Dartmoorian horizons. At its heart is a symbiosis of ‘lost’ places and forgotten words, stretching as far back as the 13th century, paired with Cole’s distinctive lyrical songwriting and remarkable soundscapes. For someone so well traveled of late, this album finally brings Cole Stacey home.
“This is a man who needs doughnuts, you can barely see him from behind that mandolin”
– Midge Ure
All photos courtesy of Copper and Blossom Photography & Coal Poet Media (apart from the low-res selfie at 6 Music)
Links
Ashbury – Proud to play and endorse their mandolins
Coal Poet Media – Photos!
Copper & Blossom – Photos!
Cosmic Ears – Proud to endorse their IEMs
Elixir Strings – Proud to use and endorse their strings
Faith Guitars – Proud to play and endorse their guitars
Flattely Pedals – Proud to use their delay and reverb pedals
Music In Devon Inititive – Proud to be a patron
