Alex Cumming (she/they) is a traditional singer, accordionist, pianist, and dance caller originally from Somerset, England, now based in Brattleboro, Vermont. With over a decade and a half of experience, Alex has performed extensively across the UK and the US, bringing traditional songs and tunes to life with her engaging stage presence and deep knowledge of folk traditions.

Alex is also known for their work with award winning UK based a Capella band The Teacups, critically acclaimed duo Alex & Audrey and celtic trio Bellwether (ft. Eric McDonald & Louise Bichan). Plus, you can find Alex playing with contra dance bands: Red Case Band, Crossover, duo with Clara Stickney, duo with Joanne Garton & their Solo Dance Band.

After over a decade of recording albums and touring with various bands, 2024 saw Alex release their debut solo album, ‘Homecoming’, featuring fiddler Audrey Jaber (Wake Up Robin, Free Raisins), guitarist Max Newman (Stringrays, Nor’Easter) and regular recording collaborator Pete Ord (Haystack Records).

Alex is also a seasoned teacher and workshop leader for schools, camps and festivals. They have taught workshops for English Folk Dance & Song Society, Folk Arts Center of New England, Country Dance & Song Society, Folk South West, Folkworks (UK), local schools and more. Camps & festivals have included Maine Fiddle Camp, ESCape, BACDS Hey Days, CDSS English Week, Youth Trad Song Weekend, CDSS Family Week, Sidmouth Folk Festival, CDSS Harmony of Song & Dance, FAC Oktoberfest and many more. Alex also served as Program Director for CDSS English Week from 2019-2022 and founded the Virtual Accordion Camp in 2020 with Jeremiah McLane and Rachel Bell.

Alex has two decades of experience as a dance caller, specializing in English & Scottish Ceilidhs, English and New England style Barn Dances & Family Folk Dances. They have also been known to call for Contra, English Country Dance & Couples Dancing. Before moving to America, Alex was a popular caller on the UK Ceilidh circuit, calling at Sidmouth Folk Festival, Broadstairs Folk Week, Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Oxfolk Ceilidhs and many more. In the US, Alex has called dances at Old Songs Festival, , New World Festival, BACDS Family Week, Quechee Highland Games, TradMad Camp @ Pinewoods, Folk Arts Center of New England, Tophill Contradance Party, BIDA and more.

Alex is also a dancer and teacher of traditional English Folk Dance. In the land of ritual dance, they currently dance with Marlboro Morris & Sword, play for Harbour Steel and helps run Marlboro Minis, a local kid’s team. Previous teams include Maple Morris, Morris Offspring, Newcastle Kingsmen, Star & Shadow, Taunton Deane Morris. Alex teaches Cotswold Morris, Border Morris, Longsword, Rapper, Northwest Morris, beginner English Clog and Ritual Dance Musician Classes. They often collaborate with their wife Alice Kaufman for work at camps and schools.

Alex has starred in prime-time TV shows including BBCs Edwardian Farm and played live sessions for BBC Radio. In theater, Alex has worked with Revels Inc., California Revels, Exeter University, Promenade Promotions and more. From 2021-2025 Alex served as the Artistic & Music Director of Revels North Inc.

They obtained a BMus Hons. in Folk & Traditional Music from Newcastle University in 2024, the only degree program of its type in England at the time. In the UK, Alex is also Grade 8 certified in Voice and Grade 6 certified in Piano Accordion. (and Grade 1 guitar for some reason)