Marilla Homes

Marilla Homes is an Australian-born, opera-trained singer and songwriter, now a celebrated figure in the UK folk scene. Finalist for the 2025 Australian Folk Music Awards – People’s Choice Award, she is praised as a "divine opera-trained singer" who has "added comedy to her already captivating stage presence" (Burke and Wills Festival 2025). Described as a "force of nature" with a powerful yet subtle voice, Marilla's journey saw her transition from opera to trad Irish sessions, inspiring her to write her own music. She released her debut album, Inner Whirl, in 2011, followed by solo a cappella album Angel Song and the funky folk record Settler’s Wife with her band, Marilla Homes and the Housemen. Since moving to Sheffield in 2014, Marilla has become embedded in the local folk community. She is half of the hilarious a cappella duo Steel Songbirds, who released their debut album Sheffield Made in 2019 and have performed at major UK festivals. Her latest album, Marilla and Friends, showcases her versatile repertoire and features international collaborations with artists like Martin Simpson and Tony McManus. Marilla’s performances offer audiences a wide range of material—from original songs, traditional ballads, and opera to blues and musical theatre—promising "respite from the everyday" and never leaving an audience sad.