David Bowie & The Feathers (1968)

The Feathers was a short-lived but historically important acoustic folk trio formed in 1968 by David Bowie, Hermione Farthingale and John “Hutch” Hutchinson. It represents one of the most intimate live vocal periods of Bowie’s early career, centered around harmony-driven folk performances in London clubs.

After the commercial failure of his 1967 debut album, Bowie moved away from pop and into the growing London folk scene. Together with then-girlfriend Hermione Farthingale and guitarist John Hutchinson, he formed The Feathers, an acoustic trio focused on traditional-style vocal harmonies.

Quick Facts

Background

After the commercial failure of his 1967 debut album, Bowie moved away from pop and into the growing London folk scene. Together with then-girlfriend Hermione Farthingale and guitarist John Hutchinson, he formed The Feathers, an acoustic trio focused on traditional-style vocal harmonies.

The group performed mainly in intimate venues such as London coffee houses and small clubs — including Les Cousins and other folk hotspots. Their sets featured early Bowie compositions, traditional folk songs, and vocal trio arrangements built entirely around live harmony rather than electric instrumentation.

Despite their musical chemistry, The Feathers disbanded quickly after the personal relationship between Bowie and Farthingale ended. The break-up would deeply influence Bowie’s songwriting, most notably on the song Letter to Hermione.

Live Performances & Locations

• 1968 – London – Acoustic folk club circuit
• 1968 – Les Cousins – Harmony-based trio performances
• 1968 – Private BBC-related sessions (informal)

Surviving Audio & Video

No full professional concert film of The Feathers survives. However, several studio and demo recordings from this period feature the same harmonic style that defined their live performances.