Welcome to the world of Holly Taymar.
“Measured and beautiful”
Tom Robinson, BBC 6Music
“Stunningly beautiful…. held the audience in the palm of her hand and delivered an evening of supreme musical magic”
Rory Stanbridge, FATEA Magazine
Holly Taymar is one of those ‘hidden gem’ singer-songwriters hailing from York, UK.
All for the love of the song, Holly’s music weaves heartfelt melodies and introspective lyrics that will leave you wanting more.
A seasoned professional, over the years she has honed her craft, performing at all manner of places from cosy acoustic nights to grassroots festivals to established venues.
As a collaborator, she’s worked with talented musicians across various genres (including as part of her duo ‘The Bronze’, with husband Chris Bilton – currently on hiatus while they collaborate on raising their daughter, Ripley).
As a session writer-performer, Holly brings a unique and emotive touch to each track. She understands the musical vision of her collaborators with her ear for beautiful melodies and harmonic arrangements.
Holly’s songwriting is profoundly influenced by personal experience. She shares this skill with others facing difficult times as part of her role as a songwriter with charity The Swan Song Project.
Her work has garnered radio airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6Music, further amplifying her voice and impact.
Holly also pays homage to the legendary Eva Cassidy in her show, ‘Holly Taymar sings Eva Cassidy’. This classic set of tunes really gives Holly the opportunity to show you the emotional spectrum of her live performance.
Holly’s music is her way of connecting with people, aiming to create a legacy of songs that leave a lasting impression on all who listen. Whether performing live, recording in the studio, or writing evocative lyrics, Holly Taymar continues to make her mark on the music scene.
Come along for the ride.
‘Measured and beautiful’ Tom Robinson, BBC 6Music
‘Immediately engaging’ Acoustic Magazine
‘Beautifully understated’ R2 Magazine
Latest News
A beautiful review from FATEA Magazine
Venue: Wildman Studio
Town: Ilkley
Date: 7th February 2026
Website: https://hollytaymar.co.uk/
I first saw Holly Taymar at Wetherby Folk Club in July 2025. What struck me immediately was not only the quality of her singing and guitar playing, but the warmth and sincerity of her performance. Here was a singer who really cared deeply about both her music and the audience. She has a totally engaging personality on stage and makes everyone in the audience feel like a good friend.
Her set on that evening comprised a number of self-penned compositions plus a couple of Eva Cassidy classics, a singer that Holly admits to being both her inspiration and her idol. At the time, Holly said that she was hoping to do a show totally devoted to Eva’s music, and the result was last night’s production, “Holly Taymar Sings Eva Cassidy.” And what a stunningly beautiful two hours of music ensued!
Thanks primarily to Terry Wogan, Eva became a household name in the UK after her death. Born in 1963 in Washington DC, Eva’s musical career was part time around local clubs and venues, always playing the music that she liked and not necessarily what was most popular. She admitted herself that she was not a good songwriter so took the decision to play other composers’ music and put her own spin on it. It is so sad that she never got to see the impact that her beautiful vocals and guitar interpretations were to have on the music world.
On Saturday, the audience in Ilkley were treated to a superb 2-hour journey along the road taken originally by Eva, this time delivered by the incredible talent that is Holly Taymar. The accuracy of both her guitar interpretations and her vocals was a total joy to behold. The 20 songs delivered included all of Eva’s hits plus a number of album tracks. Compositions by Lennon, McCartney, Sting, Paul Simon and so many others were included, starting with “Songbird” and finishing with the beautiful and poignant “What A Wonderful World” the last song that Eva ever performed live. Apart from two songs for which audience participation was requested by Holly, the remainder of the evening’s music was played to such a mesmerised audience that a pin dropping would have been deafening. Holly truly held the audience in the palm of her hand and delivered an evening of supreme musical magic.
In sincerely thanking Holly for an incredible performance, I must also thank Eva Cassidy for bringing so much love and musical excellence to the World, and once again to Terry Wogan, the best radio presenter ever, for bringing this magic to my attention.
Rory Stanbridge Words & Pic
Holly’s playing again in 2026…
You curious as to where?
In short, it’s a right lovely mix of theatres, studios (and more casual venues too).
I cannot wait!
Check out all the latest upcoming dates here
Thank you for making it possible to continue living this absolute dream 🙂