NEW ALBUM

OUT APRIL 10, 2026

LISTEN / BUY

Following the acclaimed Fungi Sessions Vol. 1, this next instalment is a growing dynamic body of work inspired by the world of fungi. The Fungi Sessions Vol. 1+ 2 are tributes, dedicated to Hannah’s late father, mycologist Nick Read, and his work.


The music immerses the listener deep into the undergrowth, following the life-cycle of a fungus. The fruits of this album were inspired by the work of friend, mycologist and pioneer of fungi time-lapse footage; Dr. Patrick Hickey and was funded by the British Mycological Society’s prestigious Massee Arts Grant. The album was first premiered in Fall/Winter 2025 in an immersive audiovisual installation exhibition called FUNGI SESSIONS, which was  held at The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh as part of Edinburgh Art Festival. 


Throughout the nine tracks, Hannah’s fiddle and electric guitar is joined by an array of celebrated artists including spoken word by mycologist and scholar Giuliana Furci (Fantastic Fungi), banjoist Michael Starkey, pedal steel by Rich Hinman (Hiss Golden Messenger, Hadestown, Josh Ritter),  cellist Nathaniel Smith  (Kacey Musgraves, Sam Grisman) , upright bassist Garren Volper and co-producer, mixing engineer and percussionist Charlie Van Kirk. 

Hannah composed this album while in woods outside Anchorage, Alaska, Eucalyptus lined hills behind San Mateo, California, and finally in the Moorfoot Hills of the Scottish Borders where the album was recorded at Heriot Toun Studio.

PRESS

“Hannah Read’s second album of music inspired by fungi is earthy, mystical and alive! There is a deep, spongy connectivity in the melodic tissue passed around from the fiddle to the banjo to the percussion like essential nutrients. There is a closeness to the textures that make you feel the pitter patter of rain in the forest on your skin. Hannah’s father was a renown mycologist and there is so clearly an element of familial love sewn into this multi-generational, multi-disciplinary fungi fascination, which makes it all the more meaningful. “The Fungi Sessions Vol. 2” captures, in song, the miracles of one of Earth’s most mysterious organic substances, still unfolding before our eyes (and ears!)”

— Bridget Kearney, musician in Lake Street Dive

“What an extraordinary recording!”

— Roger Kash, NPR KRVS Freetown Radio

"Deeply clever, thoughtful and moving, I love this development on The Fungi Sessions. Hannah Read is bold and brilliant in unearthing new sounds and feelings from the soil."

— Alice Vincent, best-selling author and podcaster of Why Women Grow and Rootbound: Rewilding a Life

Track list:

  1. Dormae

  2. Bio Murmur (feat. Giuliana Furci)

  3. Might See Liam 

  4. Rye Hunter 

  5. Hyphadance

  6. Red Tails

  7. Green Elf

  8. Neptune (feat. Giuliana Furci)

  9. Basidio  

Album credits:

Hannah Read - fiddle, electric guitar

Michael Starkey - clawhammer banjo, acoustic guitar

Giuliana Furci - spoken word

Rich Hinman - pedal steel

Ben Flocks - tenor saxophone

Nat Smith - cello

Garren Volper - upright bass

Charles Van Kirk - percussion 

Co-produced by Hannah Read & Charlie Van Kirk

Engineered by Mattie Foulds at Heriot Toun Studio, Scotland

Mixing, mastering and additional engineering by Charles Van Kirk