Spencer Cullum, Max Kinghorn-Mills, and Erin Rae Announce Collaborative Album Banquet Rock

Nestled within the historic walls of Chale Abbey Studios on the Isle of Wight, a formidable assembly of contemporary folk and indie-rock artists has crafted one of the most anticipated collaborative projects of the upcoming musical calendar. Chale Abbey Studios, originally constructed around 1338 by John de Langford as a grand medieval feast hall, provided the atmospheric backdrop for the creation of Banquet Rock, a genre-blending album set for release on February 26, 2027, via Full Time Hobby. The record brings together pedal steel virtuoso Spencer Cullum, Max Kinghorn-Mills of Hollow Hand, and acclaimed singer-songwriter Erin Rae, supported by an elite ensemble of instrumentalists.

The Genesis at Chale Abbey Studios

The story of Banquet Rock is deeply intertwined with the isolated, rugged charm of its recording location. Built more than six centuries ago, Chale Abbey Studios has transitioned from a medieval gathering space into a sought-after residential recording sanctuary. The studio first gained prominent modern attention in music circles through Spencer Cullum, who introduced audiences to the facility during the creation of his celebrated album Echolalia. Reflecting on the unique environment of the studio, producer and musician Jordan Lehning previously described the location as an expedition into the middle of nowhere, where the dramatic coastline is merely a seven-minute walk away. In the depths of winter, the landscape transforms into a cold, foggy, and profoundly atmospheric refuge that leaves a lasting imprint on any artist who works there.

The gravitational pull of Chale Abbey proved irresistible to Cullum, who returned to the Isle of Wight manor house to spearhead this new collaborative venture alongside Kinghorn-Mills and Erin Rae. The core trio was bolstered by a stellar backing band featuring drummer Dom Billet—who also contributed to Cullum’s Echolalia—bassist Harry Bohay, and multi-instrumentalist Rich Ruth handling guitars and synthesizers. Over an intensive four-day residency at the coastal estate, the collective channeled the secluded environment into a cohesive sonic statement.

Musical Influences and Sonic Architecture

The resulting album, Banquet Rock, spans a rich auditory landscape defined by 1970s-flecked autumnal folk-rock. The stylistic blueprint of the record was shaped by the musicians’ shared appreciation for classic 1970s British folk songs, the eccentricities of the British acid-folk movement, and the whimsical, often melancholic atmospheres found in vintage children’s television soundtracks. This eclectic mix of inspirations allowed the ensemble to experiment with textures that feel simultaneously nostalgic and strikingly modern.

The first glimpse into this collaborative world arrives with the lead single, Far Below The Willows, accompanied by an official behind-the-scenes visual presentation. Drawing thematic and sonic inspiration from Kenneth Grahame’s classic literary work The Wind in the Willows and the pioneering pastoral psychedelia of Syd Barrett, the track unfolds with vibrant energy. It couples jaunty, upright piano melodies with a gentle, rolling undercurrent of country-leaning instrumentation, gradually blossoming into a spirited and playful movement that highlights the intuitive interplay between Cullum, Kinghorn-Mills, and Rae.

Collaborative Dynamics and the Concept of Banquet Rock

The collaborative process was driven by a mutual admiration among the artists and a desire to capture the spontaneous joy of music-making in a shared physical space. Max Kinghorn-Mills reflected on the collaborative journey and the lasting value of the residency at Chale Abbey Studios. By the conclusion of their time on the Isle of Wight, the participants found themselves energized by the material they had generated, sharing a collective passion for the newly minted songs.

According to Kinghorn-Mills, the time and collaborative space shared during those four days holds immense creative and personal value. Beyond the primary objective of producing the highest-quality music possible, Cullum and Kinghorn-Mills shared an underlying intention to turn the recording sessions into an celebratory experience. The project was initially dubbed a Banquet somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but the moniker ultimately captured the communal spirit of the sessions and remained the defining title for the record.

Chronology and Release Details

The timeline leading up to the release of Banquet Rock highlights a swift and focused creative process, moving from initial concept to physical production within a streamlined window:

• 2024: Spencer Cullum introduces audiences to Chale Abbey Studios during the rollout of his album Echolalia, establishing a creative connection to the Isle of Wight manor house.
• Late 2025 to Early 2026: Preliminary discussions take place between Cullum, Max Kinghorn-Mills, and Erin Rae regarding a collaborative project centered around shared musical influences from 1970s British folk and acid-folk.
• Mid-2026: The ensemble assembles at Chale Abbey Studios, bringing together backing musicians Dom Billet, Harry Bohay, and Rich Ruth for an intensive four-day recording block.
• December 2026: Lead single Far Below The Willows is announced alongside pre-order details, giving listeners their first preview of the album’s pastoral aesthetic.
• February 26, 2027: Official worldwide release of Banquet Rock via Full Time Hobby across digital and physical formats.

To accommodate collectors and physical media enthusiasts, Full Time Hobby has announced that Banquet Rock will be distributed in multiple formats. Alongside standard digital availability and compact disc releases, the album will be pressed on Moonstone Sage Clear Vinyl, alongside a Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) exclusive Marbled Twilight Purple Vinyl variant. Pre-orders for the album are currently active across major digital service providers and independent record retailers.

Industry Implications and Artistic Significance

The release of Banquet Rock underscores a broader contemporary movement within indie and folk music toward destination recording. By removing themselves from traditional urban studio environments and immersing themselves in historically significant, geographically isolated spaces like Chale Abbey, artists are increasingly able to foster focused, highly collaborative environments that prioritize communal performance over digital assembly.

Furthermore, the cross-pollination of distinct musical identities—bringing together Cullum’s pedal steel mastery, Kinghorn-Mills’ pastoral indie-folk sensibilities, and Rae’s emotive vocal delivery—demonstrates the viability of modern super-collaborations within the independent music sector. Backed by the established infrastructure of Full Time Hobby, Banquet Rock is positioned to be a critical highlight of the early 2027 musical landscape, offering listeners a rich, multi-layered journey into British folk traditions filtered through a contemporary transatlantic lens.