Eilidh Patterson

Down to the River to Pray

Down to the River to Pray is a song that has many potential origins – possibly a gospel song, an Appalachian song, an African-American spiritual.... who knows? 

First published in 1867, in some ways its various potential sources highlight the huge influx of people from every corner of the globe that emigrated to North America. 

In some settings, the word “river” has baptismal connotations (as in the movie O Brother Where Art Thou?) whereas in others it has implications of slaves escaping through a river so the bounty hunters’ dogs would lose the scent of those escaping.

Biography

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Eilidh (pronounced I-Lee) is a warm, engaging performer of startling clarity. With songs that cut straight to the heart, delightfully accurate, fingerstyle guitar playing and crystal clear vocals, Eilidh immediately connects with audiences everywhere she goes. 

In recent years, she has performed at the SxSW and Folk Alliance festivals in the US and at Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Scotland. Eilidh’s relaxed stage presence invites the listener to sit back and enjoy her unique take on life and love. Over the years she has worked with established artists in the folk scene both in the studio and on stage, most notably with Beth Neilsen Chapman, Ron Black and Yvonne Lyon. Regularly appearing on TV and radio, she has taken part in many live broadcasts for BBC and on stations across the UK and Ireland. 

She has released five studio albums and her most recent album, Safe Place, was launched in August 2020. Eilidh’s roots in gospel music shine through every performance, her musical journey taking her through folk and soul music, but still keeping in tune with her love of a more stripped back approach. That’s all her music needs.