Sydney's favourite folk club High Tea opens its 2015 season with a special show featuring the sublime songcraft of The Maple Trail and the kalimba-toting PHIA.

The Maple Trail is the project of multi-instrumentalist Aidan Roberts (Belles Will Ring, Lanie Lane, Tubular Bells For Two). This performance features the band and special guest artists.

Having spent time writing in Europe and Britain in 2013 and 2014, Roberts has gathered a new collection of songs to follow 2012's acclaimed album 'Cable Mount Warning'. Now recording his fourth album for Broken Stone Records, Roberts' new music travels from his roots in traditional English and Scottish folk, skewed Americana and resting in his own distinct vocal and guitar storyscapes. These are the latest tales of winter and summer, light and dark, love and loss, tigers and Tasmania.

Joining The Maple Trail is Berlin-based Phia - hailed by the European press as "one of Australia's most underrated musical exports". Classically-trained Phia creates "hypnotic, joyful and definitely danceable" pop music using nothing but an African Kalimba, her voice and a loop pedal.

Phia and her producer/guitarist Josh Teicher are close to completing the recording of her debut album this year, in-between touring and playing festivals, and we're delighted to host her on a brief stopover in Australia.

Tea, as always, is on the house.