A Different Thread

Alicia Best, from Durham, North Carolina, and Robert Jackson, from the UK, met while busking on the cobbled streets of Ireland and discovered both a musical and personal harmony that was serendipitous. After years on the road, the duo are finally putting down roots in North Carolina, and they return to the UK with their new album “Over Again”.

This is the third record from A Different Thread and it follows a breakout year for the duo. Highlights include various placements on BBC radio stations, a **** review in Rolling Stone, (DE), and a **** review in RnR Magazine, and the title track won “Best in Folk” at the 2026 International Acoustic Music Awards.  Americana UK praised their “charming, exquisite songwriting” and “delightful harmonies” and the band received placements on Apple Music editorial playlists, and rising recognition on the intercontinental circuit.

Across their live set, A Different Thread tells their charming story in rich, harmony-led arrangements. With acoustic guitar, fiddle, harmonica, and a suitcase drum kit, the pair blends British folk-rock and North Carolina alt-country into a transatlantic sound that moves seamlessly between intimate quiet moments, lively foot-stomping energy, and audience singalongs. Their songs explore themes of wanderlust, resilience, and social justice topics, with an underlying feeling of hope. While inspired by artists like Gillian Welch, Richard and Linda Thompson, and John Prine, A Different Thread maintains a distinct sound that is all their own. 

“We write songs to bring people together, to inspire hope, kindness, and to work towards a brighter future for all,” – A Different Thread