New album from Oak and Holly Band

Perhaps no other modern folk project is as deeply embedded in Britain’s landscapes and cultural memory as Oak and Holly Band. The group has built an artistic world where folklore, mythology, seasonal traditions and the natural environment intertwine through song, visual storytelling and historical exploration. Inspired by the enduring relationship between people and the land they inhabit, Oak and Holly Band crafts music that encourages listeners to slow down, look more closely at the world around them and rediscover stories that have survived beneath the canopy of ancient woodlands.

The project was founded by songwriter, filmmaker and researcher Roland ‘Roly’ Keates, whose fascination with Britain’s mythology and forgotten histories forms the creative heart of the band. His vision extends well beyond songwriting, embracing cinematic visual art as an integral part of the experience and by using artificial intelligence as a creative filmmaking tool, he produces atmospheric music videos that breathe life into ancient legends, woodland folklore and historical tales while remaining faithful to the spirit of the traditions that inspired them.

Oak and Holly Band is strengthened by the contributions of musicians Garrison ‘Windward’ Lewis and John Richey, whose performances complement Roland’s songwriting with arrangements that balance traditional British and Celtic folk influences alongside contemporary acoustic production. Together they’ve created a sound that feels timeless, allowing centuries-old themes to connect with modern listeners across the UK and beyond.

The group first introduced that vision through their debut album, The Erie Wave 1889, released in May; inspired by a true story from the shores of Lake Erie, the record combined maritime history, folk balladry and cinematic storytelling into a compelling work that revealed the band’s ambition to use folk music as a vehicle for immersive historical storytelling. Now Oak and Holly Band returns with its second studio album titled Custodians of the Woodland, a release that shifts its focus from distant shores to the forests, pathways and ancient landscapes of Britain itself.

Across ten songs, the record explores a world where history, myth and nature coalesce, taking listeners into woodlands where stories are carried not only by people, but by the trees, rivers and stones themselves. The inspiration behind the album grew from Roland’s lifelong relationship with Britain’s forests. Countless walks through woodland across changing seasons and different times of day gradually shaped the record’s themes, allowing direct observation of nature to overlap with folklore, mythology and historical research.

Throughout Custodians of the Woodland, listeners encounter a bright fabric of imagery drawn from Britain’s cultural heritage, with ancient seasonal celebrations, sacred fires, woodland herbs and their traditional uses all becoming part of the album’s context. Opening the album, “The Woods Remember,” frames the philosophical scene upon which the entire album rests by imagining the forest as an enduring witness to history itself. Trees observe generations passing beneath their branches, streams carry reflections through centuries and the stones beneath our feet quietly preserve memories long after people have disappeared.

Title track “Custodians of the Woodland” forms with delicate acoustic guitar plucks and soft strings as smooth vocals float above the stripped back folk arrangement. Developing with the steady shuffle of drums, the song flows with memorable melodic leads and picture painting lyricism, casting an enchanting musical experience from start to finish. Song’s like “By The Fire’s Glow” build on the album’s transportive sound with a tender indie folk outing brimming with intricate guitar and strings capped by warm vocal leads, progressing with rustling percussive energy and stunning stacks of layered vocals.

“The Holly King’s Lament” delivers a dazzling folk moment of storytelling songwriting and blissfully melodic elements while “The Old Paths” flows with lilting rhythmic sway, soothing vocals, playful instrumental flourishes and spellbinding tone. Closing the album with “Druids Ride,” the bright flutter of instrumentation slips into a pop-tinged folk anthem that offers a spectacular finale to Oak and Holly Band’s sophomore full-length record.

Commenting on the album, Roland Keates shares, “Custodians of the Woodland grew from years of walking Britain’s ancient woodlands. Songwriting has always been an extension of poetry for me, and every song began with a place, a season, a forgotten woodland herb and its traditional use, or a fragment of folklore. My hope is that listeners feel they’ve stepped beneath the trees and become part of those traditions themselves.”

Listen to Custodian of the Woodland below