Agent Starling, aka Lou Duffy-Howard and international hurdy-gurdy player Quentin Budworth, are full of catchy hurdy-gurdy tunes, new songs, hypnotic drones, live bass grooves, and strings, all accessible sounds with an experimental edge.

Quentin and Lou both have strong musical provenance, followers, and contacts. Lou was originally in the recently reformed prophetic UK indie band Red Guitars and has gigged and recorded ever since, until lockdown with the psychedelic rock band Loudhailer Electric Company. Quentin spent the year before lockdown touring Europe, meeting with other top hurdy-gurdy players, exchanging tunes, techniques, and experiences. Originally part of Suns of Arqa, he is the force behind the world fusion medieval rave band Celtarabia, also featuring Lou on bass. The band usually plays the alternative festival circuit throughout the summer, but due to lockdown restrictions on live music, they have joined forces to create Agent Starling.

Agent Starling tracks and info:

Hurdy-gurdy by Quentin Budworth, other instruments by Lou Loudhailer, also featuring violinist Dexter Duffy-Howard.

Great response to Agent Starling’s preview tracks:

“This is wonderful. It has a feeling of antiquity and a feeling of something new. The music is a blast, and the images are a constant wow.” - Dan Kellaway (Luthier)

“Great video and what a wonderful, unusual sound.” - Áine Kennedy

“Beautiful in every way. The music, the playing, and the photography are all amazing.” - Richard Harries

“Love this stuff; soul-moving.” - Kelvin Richmond

“This is wonderful. Love the fluid bass figures.” - Landi Michaels