Liz Simmons & Flynn Cohen
About Liz Simmons & Flynn Cohen
Liz Simmons and Flynn Cohen (of Vermont, USA) are the founding couple of the award-winning American Roots & Folk band Low Lily. Between them they sing and play guitars and mandolin, creating a close duo vocal harmony and warm, cohesive instrumental blend cultivated from years of musical collaboration. From introspective original and traditional folk songs to impeccably plucked instrumentals on mandolin and guitar, Liz and Flynn put on a dynamic show of folk and roots music, influenced by the traditions of bluegrass, Americana, and Irish and English folk music.
Born in San Francisco to musician parents, Liz Simmons spent her early childhood traveling through the wilds of North America in a sky blue VW bus. Her parents were itinerant musicians, moving from California to Oregon to Alaska, and finally settling in New England. Inspired by her beginnings and after a brief foray into classical music, Liz found her way back to folk and roots music, founding the bands Annalivia and Low Lily with husband Flynn Cohen, as well as performing in a duo with Hannah Sanders, and as a backing vocalist for Livingston Taylor, Tom Chapin, Melanie, and others.
2021 saw the release of “Poets" (her first solo album in fifteen years) which has been lauded as "an ageless album" (Irish Music Magazine), “more than the sum of its considerable parts” (RNR Magazine) and "pure poetry indeed" (Goldmine Magazine). Cambridgeshire’s Ben Savage was at the mixing helm of “Poets”, and musical guests on the album include dobro phenom Andy Hall (The Infamous Stringdusters), pedal steel legend Pete Grant (The Grateful Dead), and cellist Natalie Haas, among many others.
Hailed as a “A versatile string virtuoso” (Dirty Linen Magazine), Ohio Native Flynn Cohen was drawn to the guitar after an injury left him unable to continue to pursue his passion for sports. When he was in his mid-teens, his aunt and uncle turned him onto the likes of Fairport Convention, Michael Hedges, Pentangle and the Bothy Band.
Then the opportunity arose to study with John Renbourn at the Dartington College of Arts in Devon. Flynn spent three years at Dartington studying with Renbourn, as well as DADGAD pioneer Davy Graham. Flynn is also a traditional bluegrass picker on guitar and mandolin, having studied with flatpicking legend Scott Nygaard.
Flynn has toured the world with such luminaries as accordion champion John Whelan, Cathie Ryan, Ruth Moody, and many others, as well as Annalivia and Low Lily. Flynn has recorded five solo albums and has been featured on many others.
