Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser resurfaces for rare live performance in London

Elizabeth Fraser, the heavenly voice of the Cocteau Twins who only has played live a handful of times in the last two decades, performed a short set Monday evening in London at an invite-only event witnessed by about 40 people, according to social media accounts of the gig.

The Society of the Golden Slippers — which says it celebrates “emerging and established talent in intimate, candlelit settings” — tweeted, “What a privilege to have hosted a rare performance with Elizabeth Fraser tonight.” The performance, which featured an assist from singer John Grant, was confirmed by attendees, including both Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt of Everything But the Girl.

“Well it’s been quite a day. Just seen Liz Fraser do a little tiny gig in Soho. John Grant guesting on one song. No big deal,” Thorn tweeted.  About an hour later, Watt chimed in: “Just saw Liz Fraser casually sing five old folk songs like it was no big deal, with John Grant joining in on harmonies, all in front of 40 people in a hot room in Soho thanks to GoldenSlippers7. Still can’t believe it happened.”

No cameras were allowed at the event, according to the performance’s organizers, but the Society of the Golden Slippers has shared “a few pics from afterwards.”

According to Watt, she performed the following traditional folk songs: “Black is the Colour of My True Love’s Hair,” “Willow Song,” “Cuckoo Song,” “Shenandoah” and “Heyr Himna Smiður.”

Since the demise of the Cocteaus in 1997, Fraser rarely has performed publicly. In 2012, she played three concerts tied to an appearance at the Meltdown festival in London, her first-ever solo shows and her first full concerts in 14 years. Last year, she appeared publicly at Royal Albert Hall to discuss the Cocteau Twins’ album Blue Bell Knoll with Grant, who also appeared at Monday’s performance.

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