Ezra Briggs is a dark folk musician from Northumberland now resident in Leith. His music is evocative of the bleak moorlands and ancient landscapes of the British Isles. Ezra sings, plays fingerstyle/flatpicking guitar and the fiddle.
Ezra has released two albums to date. His first album “The November Guest” was released in August 2019 and was named as The Crack Magazine’s “Album of the Month”. The album was recorded at Simpson Street Studios in Thropton Northumberland, and features Ceitidh Mac on cello and was produced by Ian Stephenson. The November Guest is a series of stories set in the Northumbrian uplands and inspired by the poetry of Robert Frost.
Ezra’s latest album “Tor and Lea” was recorded at Blank Studios in Newcastle and produced by Sam Grant. It features Geordie musicians such as Ceitidh Mac, Hels Pattison and Zac Savage. Ezra celebrated the album with a sold out album release show at Leith Depot in February 2025. Tor and Lea is about mythical characters and dramas. There are songs about rain-soaked pirates guarding slag heaps (Soggy Pete), libraries buried in the desert (The Library) and haunted houses reeking of carbolic soap (Out, Out!).
Combined, Ezra’s music has more than 20k online streams and has been played on local radio and by BBC Introducing.
In addition to recording music, Ezra has performed live at a wide range of events and venues including a sold-out Sofar Sounds show in Gateshead. He has also supported bands and artists such as Hels Pattison, Folke and The Fargo Railroad Co.
When not roaming the moors looking for inspiration for another folk ballad, Ezra is an environmental scientist and has a PhD in the chemistry of peat bogs.