Claire Vine is a folk singer and songwriter based in Machynlleth, Cymru. Her solo project fearlessly explores urgent themes of land rights, oppression, climate change and inequality, in timeless songs that sound like they've always existed. Using subtle electronics to layer her voice into a haunting choir, she creates a space for her listeners to collectively feel the grief expressed in her music, offering a moment of shared catharsis. She is also a skilled song-interpreter, delivering classics from the traditional/folk revival canon with a new and profound humanity.
Claire Vine released her debut solo album We Carve Our Path on 13 March 2026 on Bristol-based community label Cuculi Records, who also released her debut EP Tunnel in 2020. With a thread of unequivocal political urgency running throughout, this evocative collection features five original songs and five highly inventive interpretations of songs drawn from the traditional canon and the repertoire of folk legends Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl.
In 2024 Claire was awarded the DYCP grant from Arts Council England, supporting her to develop her singing and songwriting craft, alongside working on a series of collaborative song-writing workshops relating to climate justice and climate grief.
She has recently delivered her first collaborative songwriting workshop on the theme of 'what positive change do you want to see in the world" and is currently planning more.
In an attempt to become be equipped with more knowledge to tackle the challenges currently facing the world, Claire has been studying towards a Masters degree in Sustainability and Behaviour Change from the Centre of Alternative Technology. She soon do be writing a dissertation exploring the impacts on participants of her collaborative songwriting workshops.
Claire moved to Cymru 2 years ago and aside from music making, she enjoys learning Cymraeg, walking, swimming and generally enjoying the outdoors, being opinionated and the occasional pint.
About
Claire is a member of long-running psychfolk band Hands of the Heron, contributing songs and arrangements to albums 13 Moons and Quiet Light, and touring extensively at venues and festivals across the UK. She also on occasion performs with respected vocal/percussion ensemble Tryani Collective and new alt-folk/pop project Kai & Hollis.
Other projects
Hands of the Heron - Pieces of Me
Claire collaborated with new drone folk project Woodfolk for their EP Oak released June 2024. On the collection she transforms poem ‘The Brave Old Oak’ into a folksong melody that could be centuries old, with her voice split and blended in captivating harmonies. She also features on lead single ‘Before The Land Was Cleared’. Above shuddering layers of harmonium, electric guitar & percussive sounds, Vine’s voice soars and then warps, looping over itself, as she laments the destruction of old forest.
Woodfolk - Before the Land was Cleared
