The Feathers – Live Folk Trio with Bowie, Hermione Farthingale, John Hutchinson (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
| Year | 1968 |
| Members | David Bowie – Hermione Farthingale – John Hutchinson |
| Style | Acoustic folk, vocal harmonies |
| Performances | London folk clubs, private showcases |
| Status | Short-lived (Spring–Summer 1968) |
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.
Formation and artistic approach
In 1968, Bowie formed the trio following earlier collaborations with Hutchinson during his mid-1960s band period. Before adopting the name Feathers, the group briefly performed under the name Turquoise.
The trio focused on acoustic arrangements and close vocal harmonies, marking a clear departure from Bowie’s earlier pop material. Their performances occasionally incorporated theatrical elements, reflecting Bowie’s growing interest in performance and presentation.
Repertoire and recordings
The group performed a mixture of early Bowie compositions and selected cover material, including songs associated with European chanson traditions such as those of Jacques Brel.
Although The Feathers never released official recordings, members of the trio contributed to several studio recordings from 1968. These include early versions of “Ching-a-Ling” and “Sell Me a Coat”, which later appeared on archival releases and film-related projects.
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 recordings from this period reflect the harmony-driven style that defined their live performances.
Video: Sell Me A Coat
Video: Ching-a-Ling
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Video: Sell Me A Coat
'Sell Me A Coat' from David Bowie's 1969 film 'Love You Till Tuesday' -
Video: Ching-a-Ling
'Ching-a-Ling' from David Bowie's 1969 film 'Love You Till Tuesday'
Break-up and aftermath
The group existed only briefly in 1968 and came to an end following the breakdown of Bowie’s relationship with Hermione Farthingale.
After the split, Bowie continued to collaborate with John Hutchinson for a period in 1969, performing in a stripped-down acoustic duo format.
Historical Importance
Although brief, The Feathers period marks a crucial emotional and artistic transition for Bowie. It stripped his music back to its essentials: voice, words and harmony.
The experience helped shape Bowie’s songwriting confidence and contributed to the development of the more introspective material that would lead to Space Oddity.
Chronology
🏛️ 22 Clareville Grove
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & Hermione Farthingale
🗒️ Notes: David and Hermione begin intensive rehearsals for their new mixed-media act. They develop the foundation of what will soon become the trio Feathers.
🏛️ 22 Clareville Grove
🎤 Artist: Feathers (Inception)
🗒️ Notes: John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson joins David and Hermione, completing the trio. They begin rehearsing a repertoire blending folk music, poetry, and mime.
🏛️ Unknown Location
🎤 Event: Professional Photography
🗒️ Notes: Around this time, various publicity shots are taken of the new trio. Bowie is keen to market the group as a serious artistic collective following his departure from Deram.
🏛️ The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
🎤 Artist: David Bowie, Hermione Farthingale & John Hutchinson
🗒️ Notes: Debut performance of the trio featuring David Bowie, Hermione Farthingale & John Hutchinson. They performed as part of a benefit concert for ‘The Living Theatre’.
🏛️ Advision Studios
🎧 Recording: ‘Back To Where You’ve Never Been’ and ‘Ching-a-Lings’
🗒️ Notes: First professional studio session for the trio. Produced by Tony Visconti.
🏛️ Shepperton Studios
🎬 Event: Filming ‘The Virgin Soldiers’
🗒️ Notes: David begins work as an extra, playing a soldier in this feature film. He continues this work periodically through October.
🏛️ Lanchester College of Technology
🎤 Artist: Feathers
🗒️ Notes: One of the earliest confirmed live performances by the trio, showcasing their mix of folk, mime, and poetry.
🏛️ Trident Studios
🎤 Artist: Feathers
🎧 Recording: ‘Ching-a-Lings’
🗒️ Notes: First recording session at Trident Studios. The trio records a more polished version of ‘Ching-a-Lings’ produced by Tony Visconti.
🏛️ Canterbury College of Art
🎤 Artist: Feathers
🗒️ Notes: The trio performs their multimedia show for a student audience. This gig is well-documented in the memoirs of John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson.
🏛️ Middle Earth Club
🎤 Artist: Feathers
🗒️ Notes: A prestigious performance at one of London’s leading underground clubs. The trio shares the bill with Terry Reid and Caravan.
🏛️ Unknown Location
🎤 Event: Film Audition
🗒️ Notes: Supplemental entry. Bowie auditions for a role in the film ‘The Virgin Soldiers’ beyond his extra work. Although he does not get a larger part, he remains in the production as an extra.
🏛️ Arts Lab
🎤 Artist: Feathers
🗒️ Notes: Cancelled. The performance was called off after the band’s car broke down on the way to the venue.
🏛️ Sussex University
🎤 Artist: David Bowie (Solo Mime)
🗒️ Notes: David performs a solo mime set during a concert that also featured the band The Deviants.
🏛️ Morgan Studios
🎧 Recording: ‘Space Oddity‘ (First Demo)
🗒️ Notes: David and John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson record the very first acoustic demo of ‘Space Oddity‘. This version features the duo’s harmony vocals and David on Stylophone.
🎬 Event: Personal Milestone
🗒️ Notes: David and Hermione travel to Falmouth to spend Christmas with Hermione’s family. This visit leads to the Feathers performance at the Princess Pavilion two days later.
🏛️ Princess Pavilion
🎤 Artist: Feathers
🗒️ Notes: A Boxing Day performance in Hermione’s hometown. The set includes folk songs, mime pieces, and the use of a Stylophone, which David had recently acquired.
1969
🏛️ Arts Lab
🎤 Artist: David Bowie (Solo Mime/Live)
🗒️ Notes: David performs at the Birmingham Arts Lab, a key venue for the underground scene.
🎬 Event: Filming ‘Luv’ Ice Cream Commercial
🗒️ Notes: David appears in a TV commercial for Luv ice cream, directed by Ridley Scott. Filming took place over two days (Jan 12-13).
🏛️ Trident Studios
🎧 Recording: ‘Love You Till Tuesday’ Soundtrack
🗒️ Notes: Start of sessions to record the film soundtrack, including the German versions ‘Lieb’ Dich Bis Dienstag’ and ‘Mit Mir In Deiner Welt’.
🏛️ 22 Clareville Grove
🎧 Recording: The Clareville Grove Demos
🗒️ Notes: David and John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson record a legendary tape including ‘Space Oddity‘, ‘Letter To Hermione’, and ‘An Occasional Dream’.
🏛️ Chelsea Manor Studios
🎬 Event: Filming ‘Space Oddity‘
🗒️ Notes: David films the ‘Space Oddity‘ segment for the ‘Love You Till Tuesday’ promotional film. This is the first visual representation of Major Tom.
🏛️ Chelsea Manor Studios
🎧 Recording: ‘When I’m Five’
🗒️ Notes: David records the vocal track for ‘When I’m Five’ for the ‘Love You Till Tuesday’ film soundtrack.
🎤 Artist: Feathers
🎬 Event: Filming ‘Ching-a-Ling’
🗒️ Notes: The trio (Bowie, Hermione, Hutch) performs for the ‘Love You Till Tuesday’ cameras.
🏛️ 22 Clareville Grove
🎤 Artist: Feathers (Bowie & Hutch)
🗒️ Notes: Recording of the ‘Clareville Grove Demos‘. While Hermione is part of the group, the recordings focus on the harmony vocals of David and Hutch.
🏛️ Chelsea Manor Studios
🎬 Event: Final filming for ‘Love You Till Tuesday’
🗒️ Notes: The final day of filming, featuring the song ‘Sell Me A Coat’. Immediately after the session, Hermione Farthingale leaves David for good to film ‘Song of Norway’ in Scandinavia, effectively ending their relationship and the trio Feathers.
🏛️ Guildhall
🎭 Event: Mime Performance (‘The Mask’)
🗒️ Notes: David performs solo mime as the support act for Tyrannosaurus Rex on their UK tour.
🏛️ Town Hall
🎭 Event: Mime Performance (‘The Mask’)
🗒️ Notes: Tour support for Tyrannosaurus Rex.
🏛️ Fairfield Halls
🎭 Event: Mime Performance (‘The Mask’)
🗒️ Notes: Tour support for Tyrannosaurus Rex.
🏛️ The Dome
🎭 Event: Mime Performance (‘The Mask’)
🗒️ Notes: Tour support for Tyrannosaurus Rex.
🏛️ Decca Studios (Studio 2), West Hampstead
🎧 Recording: ‘Space Oddity‘ (Demo)
🗒️ Notes: David and John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson record another acoustic demo of ‘Space Oddity‘. This tape is instrumental in securing a new record deal with Mercury Records.
🤝 Event: Mercury Records Deal
🗒️ Notes: Following the strength of the recent demos, Simon Hayes secures a one-album deal (with an option for more) with Mercury Records for David.
🏛️ BBC Aeolian Hall, Bond Street
🎤 Event: BBC Radio Audition
🗒️ Notes: David performs solo for a BBC talent panel. The internal report famously states: “Amateur sounding” and “No personality”. He is rejected for future radio sessions, just months before ‘Space Oddity‘ becomes a hit.