Listening to Louise Rogan sing, with her sparkling, glassy, crystalline tone, soaring against the sound of her father and lifelong collaborator Chris Rogen, with his distinct oaken, solid, earthen harmonies, is a captivating experience. Sounding somehow like hot water on ice the duo deliver a mix of original, traditional, and re-imagined music, transporting an audience to a safe, warm and welcoming place where you can forget life for a while.

I am not sure if it is the family history, of a life steeped in three generations of singing around a home fire, or their natural northern openness to connections, that makes the music of Chris and Louise Rogan, seem to be such a two way emotional communication. Maybe it is the warmth of a father daughter bond, or just simply the good nature of open hearts and warm melodies, but whatever it is they use to create their magic it is as unique as it is enchanting. It is like a rare glistening stone which, when found should be cherished.

Now I know that sounds melodramatic, regular readers may know my tendency towards hyperbole, but here is the thing… I thought this magical tenderness might have been a one off, because the first time I saw this outstanding duo I was sitting in the breathtaking church stage at Kimpton Folk Festival (2025). Perhaps then, naively I thought, I had gotten carried away by the spectacle of the space, or the elongated reverberation of the stone church, or I was simply swept away by the newness of sound discovered, but no.. It turns out, that the epic resonance in Chris Rogan’s warm, enriching voice and the tender, operatic perfection of Louise’s delicately metered lyrics, is actually a sound that works just as well in a function room above a pub.

The award winning duo, open the show perfectly, with a song, entitled “The Ballad of Harry McNish”. This haunting lament draws in the audience with every voice in the room singing the repeated line “we call his name”, guided deftly by Chris who appears to assert instant control, visually conducting the room with a warm and welcoming nod of the head. There is an instant trust between the audience and Chris which I find enthralling, it feels like in that moment we would have followed wherever he led.

Swiftly they move, banking the early goodwill, and lifting a fully thawed out room, into a beautiful, soaring and magical version of “The White Cockade/Think of Me”. I love their version of this famous song, taking their inspiration from the ‘Copper Family’ version, and focusing on the story of parting lovers. The sweetness in the gulf between the registers used by Louise and Chris brings a light and shade to this song which is intoxicating, it is not often I wish a song will not end…

Like any good narrative, I feel like these opening numbers have achieved a kind of nesting. Warming us up, settling us down, reminding us this is a safe place to sing and share in the music, and then nurturing us ready for the main event. Which arrives like a majestic royal yacht, in the harbour of the room. Louise begins the first of many songs from her sensational Debut Album “Give me a day”, released recently.

“The Staithes Bonnet” is an all original, folk inspired story, set in a Yorkshire fishing village, where widows would wear a purple bonnet to signal their readiness to love again. When Louise sings this glorious song, and as the haunting tale of a drowned Sailor and his widowed love unfolds, he pleads for her to wear the purple bonnet and to love again… In Louise’s authentic and theatrical voice and with the wooden stage at the golden hind creaking like a gallon under foot this made for a captivating introduction to Louise Rogans outstanding writing ability.

Louise and Chris treated us to a great selection of music and stories, in what I think for me might be once of the most engaging and heartwarming shows I have seen this year,…. If you get chance to see them, take it.

Louise Rogan Live

We have a Podcast Episode with Louise Rogan coming soon… Check out our current episodes, here.