Melanie Crew & Ross Palmer are a South London-based duo. Their personal partnership also became a musical one when Crew turned her hand to songwriting and started performing them live. Palmer, already a songwriter himself and a veteran of the folk and roots scene, began sitting in on live performances, contributing guitar and occasional harmonies and before they knew it, a duo was born. Following an EP and a well-received debut album, Quiet After Midnight, the pair released their second album, Some Other Stories, at the end of 2025.

Drawing on influences from Fairport Convention to Elliott Smith, many of the songs reflect highly personal themes such as the beautifully melancholic ‘Look Back on Before’ which was released as a single.

Melanie Crew & Ross Palmer: “The songs contemplate the connections we make with each other and what happens when those connections break down. They examine the people we are and how we become those people. They look at the past with a kind eye and to the future with cautious optimism.”

The pair split songwriting duties just as they split lead vocal duties but as with all the best duos they are very much more than the sum of their parts and complement one another to perfection. The pair are also ably accompanied by Adam Beattie and Colin Somervell on double bass, Basia Bartz on violin, Nick Frater on piano and Hammond organ, and Ben Handysides on cello. Palmer’s bandmates, Yo Zushi and Russell Parton, from his other project Great days of Sail also feature in the choral parts on ‘Our Captain Cried All Hands’, the album’s one traditional ballad and another definite highlight.

Certainly a duo to watch and an album well worth checking out.

Released: 5 December 2025 https://www.melaniecrewandrosspalmer.com/