Trees

Trees were a British folk rock band active between 1969 and 1972. Although the group achieved only limited commercial success during its existence, it later gained recognition as one of the pioneering bands of the British folk-rock movement. Interest in the band revived in 2007 when Gnarls Barkley sampled the song “Geordie” from Trees’ second album, On the Shore (1971), on the title track of their multi-million-selling album St. Elsewhere. The band’s classic line-up consisted of vocalist Celia Humphris, guitarist Barry Clarke, guitarist David Costa, bassist and keyboard player Bias Boshell, and drummer Unwin Brown. Trees combined traditional British folk music with contemporary rock influences, creating a distinctive sound characterized by electric and acoustic guitars, rich vocal harmonies, and imaginative arrangements. Their two studio albums, The Garden of Jane Delawney (1970) and On the Shore (1971), are widely regarded as classics of the British folk-rock genre and have developed a strong cult following over the years. Today, Trees are remembered as one of the most influential and respected underground folk-rock bands of the early 1970s. Signed to CBS Records in 1969, Trees released two studio albums: The Garden of Jane Delawney (1970) and On the Shore (1971). Both albums were recorded at Sound Techniques Studios in London and produced by Tony Cox. The band’s music combined traditional British folk material with original compositions, creating a distinctive sound that blended folk rock with psychedelic influences. Their repertoire included both traditional arrangements and songs written primarily by bassist and keyboard player Bias Boshell. On the Shore featured cover artwork by Storm Thorgerson of the renowned design collective Hipgnosis. While Trees were often compared to Fairport Convention, their music is generally regarded as having a more atmospheric and psychedelic character.
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