Singer-songwriter Ruth Patterson is lead singer of Newcastle-based folk-rock band Holy Moly & The Crackers, and says she will use her residency to work on a solo project around her experiences as a disabled front-woman.
Growing up in North Yorkshire, Ruth classically trained on violin and clarinet whilst teaching herself to play piano and write songs. However, at the age of 15 she was diagnosed with chronic arthritis and was unable to play for two years; her hands have never fully recovered. She began to sing and has developed her versatile rock voice and intelligent song-writing and performance style.
At the age of 21 she was diagnosed with Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder affecting all of the joints and causing frequent dislocations, wide-spread pain and chronic fatigue. She has been a wheelchair user since then but has managed to extensively tour across the UK and internationally with her band since graduating university.
She works with organisation Attitude is Everything, spreading awareness of the needs of deaf and disabled performers and audience members.