BAND OF BADGERS PRESENTS...MIDWEEK MUSIC MIX #3

I say it again and again but I will say it again and again and then again some more! Soooooooooooo much music!! I am drowning in it but you know what? I like this kind of drowning. I want more of the drowning please, so long may it continue to pour in by the ocean load. Do keep it coming folks.

I recently had a load of new bands start following me on Soundcloud. This is in addition to the many who have done and continue to do so on Twitter. I sincerely wish I could get through you all in better time but there's just too much. Seriously, when I started doing this more so a year ago I thought I was drowning in it then but now it is a phenomenal amount. A staggering amount! There is so much fantastic music out there in the world. Away from the humdrum rubbish from repetitive commercial or public radio stations. So much unsigned stuff that is just completely insane that it isn't signed. Still, I'd say a lot of those are in a better position for themselves than if they were snapped up by some huge record label and then molded into something they are not. It happens and will continue to happen so long as the soulless executives (most who know little about quality music) only see £'s (or $ or whatever your currency) in the acts. With all these unsigned independent bands and artists, I understand there's not a huge amount I can do to assist but for every one music fan who stumbles upon this humble little music blog to see what it's all about, all the acts I feature may gain one more fan. One more person to add to their free download figures, or their YouTube viewing figures. Or even indeed one more person to buy some of the quality music on offer at such reasonable and affordable prices.

I am going through as much as I can given my limited time so hopefully I'll get through most, if not all of it. Eventually. It may take a while so 'bear with'. I'm still waiting for that sponsor to give me a job doing this full time. I won't hold my breath or else I'll be finished quite quickly and won't be able to do even this. Jesse Korby of US rock band Wings of Apollo wrote a perfect piece about making music and the current state of the music industry. You should give it a read >>here<<. Make sure you check out their tunes as well. I will be playing two tracks from their debut album on podcast #14. I had to settle with two and it took me long enough to get it down to just those. HELL YEAH!!!!

Anywho, with my regular famous ramble out of the way let's crack on and actually get some of this fantastic music shared. That is, after all, what it is all about! Like I say, there is so much music and every day more and more gets added to the list. I should be (and am) working on two other posts at the moment I write this. Multitasking, oh yes. I honestly could do with staff but I can't even afford to pay myself. Right! On with the MUSIC.

INTRODUCING...WELCOME PARIAH

Fear not folks! Indie Britpop is NOT dead. Not while we have the likes of Welcome Pariah releasing music. This is an alternative rock band steeped in that early to mid 90's Brit pop sound that I think was responsible for creating this genre that isn't a genre 'indie'. At the time when asked what kind of music they were into I recall many people jumping on the Oasis and Blur bandwagon (to name just two of the biggest at the time) and claiming that it was 'indie music' they were into. Indie meaning this kind of alternative rock and pop which later gathered under the umbrella term Britpop. 

Welcome Pariah are not pop I wouldn't say but they do have everything that goes with sounding like this alternative rock and pop a la Britpop. They are better, in fact. Why? Just listen. The guitar work on Liberty Pill for a start. Not just that, though, it's the whole package. How flawlessly their sound comes together and the results to our ears. It's easy to see why they have already supported bands and musicians like Steve Cradock (Ocean Colour Scene/Paul Weller), The Moons, Mark Morris (The Bluetones), Chris Helme (The Seahorses) and The Dexters.

Londoners and all those music fans visiting at the time need to pencil (or type - does anyone still use pencils these days?) in Friday 26th April because the band are playing the most prestigious rock and roll club night This Feeling at The Macbeth in Shoreditch. This will be the gig to launch their new single Neither Here Nor There, which you can listen to above. Smashing isn't it?! Trounces on and blows out the water all the humdrum, mundane rubbish that is technically 'popular' because you're all told it is so.

After hearing just these two tunes so far I count myself a MASSIVE fan. I feel genuinely rather excited about what is to come from them. Based on the strength of Neither Here Nor There alone, it's understandable the band are gathering so much interest across the board. They have a number of top gigs and established festival slots (see dates below) lined up over the coming months. Not only this but they were recently interviewed and featured in The Huffington Post (read that >>here<<). Reading this gives you a true personal feel about them and it's a good one. They talk of the download culture that erupted at the time the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian broke out on to the scene, claiming they were the last bands who were snapped up by major labels. Similar to Adrian Banks' (The Scholars) comments about the industry. There are so many unsigned indie bands and musicians out their who clearly have a universe-worth of talent to display, yet they cannot get picked up due to the risk factor. And the money factor of course. Also, something humbling about Welcome Pariah is how if they were to be offered any deal, it can only be on their own terms. This is important because true fans will want the band as they are and as they are meant to be. Not ending up like puppets on a string putting out soulless records after their first few big 'real' albums. From what I've learned about them so far I doubt that would ever happen to these guys. They are indie to their core with a sound that is going to propel them on to the music scene in a huge way over the next year or so. The industry has been damaged, yes but with all the great offerings about at the moment, bands like Welcome Pariah are proving there's still so much to give. Indeed, I believe it is bands like this who will be responsible for repairing the damage done to the music industry.

They are currently working on new material to showcase at the live gigs and will be getting their heads down in the studio to record more tracks for a longer release. Bring it on, I say. I need more tunes from this band please and soon. 

UPCOMING GIGS 2013:

25th April - RMA Tavern, Portsmouth

26th April - This Feeling Club Night, The Macbeth, London

27th April - The Essex Arms, Brentwood

10th May - This Feeling Club Night, Cellar, Southampton

11th May - Pulse Festival, Sunnyfields Farm, Hampshire

17th May - Lennons, Supporting Catfish and the Bottlemen, Southampton

24th May - Coburgs, Ryde, Isle of Wight

25th May - The Tap, Sandown, Isle of Wight

8th June - The Adam & Eve, Scooterists For Heroes, Birmingham

14/15th June - March of the Mods Festival, Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough

21st June - The Fiddlers Elbow, Cool Britannia, Camden, London

29th June - The Good Ship, Kilburn, London

19/20/21st July - Tonefest, Dorset

26th July - Gabefest 5, Hampshire

2nd August - Frolic Fest, Kent

GOODBYE STEREO ARE MAKING WAVES

This is one of those just added to my ever-growing list. Like literally just added the very evening I began writing up this post. Thanks to someone on Facebook posting the video. Goodbye Stereo are an alternative rock band who will be releasing their debut album Island, on 24th May. Have a watch of the video for this single Waves which is also available as a FREE download at the band's Soundcloud page >>here<<.

ON THE ROAD WITH SEAN TAYLOR

I fully intended to share more from this amazing singer-songwriter long before now but you know how it is. This is another video I came across a tweet for literally as I was gearing to write this post. I have to do this though or else it could be ages before I get back around to it. As I hadn't featured Sean Taylor in far too long, here it is. You can subscribe to his YouTube channel for more and to keep updated on any new videos that go up. The Road is stunning! It was recorded in London last October and features the talented percussionist James Taylor.

As I mentioned when featuring Sean last time round, I'm fortunate to have seen him play live already. That's the beauty of quality independent festivals and you don't get more independent than the medium-sized Beautiful Days. Tickets for this year are booked and paid for. There was no way I was missing out like I had to last year. There will be more on Beautiful Days in due course as Wood Festival is long before that so on with that feature first. Sean has a number of live dates up on his website so get checking those out and get yourself along if he's playing near you. As well as some April dates including a Bob Harris BBC Radio 2 session on 21st (what a performance that promises to be), he is embarking upon a UK tour in May. In fact, he is kindly stopping by The Castle in Wellingborough (a mere 25 minutes away) so I've just bagged me some tickets to that. Expect a write up shortly after. http://www.seantaylorsongs.com/

In the meantime grab yourself his latest album, Love Against Death, a sampler for which is below:



CURIOSITY KILLED...LETS GO SAFARI

That headline/title says it all really. This is the debut EP from Dorset-based indie-pop group Let's Go Safari. What we have here is a wonderful amalgamation of all that's great about indie pop music. These guys add to what I've shared before in what REAL pop music should be and is about. None of that rubbish played on endless repeat on some radio stations. You know the sort I mean, just nonsensical noise for the most part. Curiosity Killed from Let's Go Safari offers up well constructed pop beats. Tunes that will get inside your head the way pop should, but ones that have substance to them. A dash of alternative rock sounds thrown into the mix make them something much more than general pop. This is fun music and after such a terribly long winter, they make the sun shine even if it isn't out to greet us with its presence. The EP is released on 28th April on Red Dragon Records. http://www.letsgosafari.co.uk/

WILL ROGERS BREAKS HIS BOAT

I get so busy finding new music from everywhere around the globe it is true I have neglected Northampton a little (okay, a lot). This is not in any way intentional of course. Just the sheer amount of it I have sent or that comes my way, it gets impossible to focus on any particular geographical area. In the past I have made a point of supporting the Midlands local talent, particularly Birmingham as that is where my roots are. That is where I am from (minus the dodgy accent I must add - not that there's anything wrong with it - accents are fun).

More recently I've been setting things right by looking into more music from the Northampton area. Thanks first to Lew Bear who I shared a few posts back, and now Will Rogers. Will is a self-taught singer-songwriter, well-known on the local open mic nights circuit for his clever lyrics, guitar rhythms and catchy choruses. He recorded this debut EP, Breaking Boat, last September and you NEED to go buy it from iTunes >>here<<. Just check out the tunes for yourselves and then get clicking the links. Click, click, click and own some top music for just £2.49.

 

It took me long enough to get on to Northampton music but it is me who has been missing out on this. Such local talent needs supporting that's for sure. Expect more from Will on the blog in due course. It goes without saying I have little excuse to miss gigs given they are literally on my doorstep and I''m really looking forward to seeing him live.


What's great about Will is how he brings a host of different styles to the table. He goes from the emotive and sublime of title track Breaking Boat and Forever Dreaming (already instant favourites of mine) to the faster, busier More and Unplanned. He's now added a loop pedal enabling him to build up his live show offerings. The excellent Cracked, above, demonstrates what we can expect from this. https://www.facebook.com/willrogersofficial

BEL X1 GET READY FOR THE CHOP CHOP

Now, I reckon I know a fair bit of music. That's handy, you may think considering I write this here musical blog. And yet I may very well know a fair bit of music spanning a number of genres, but my knowledge is the smallest tip of  the biggest iceberg. How can I have not come across Bell X1 before now I ask myself? Thankfully, I don't answer myself. That would be the time to worry. This 'find', if I can call it thus, comes courtesy of my wonderful contacts at Prescription PR (this time with thanks to James, but I must also give a shout out to Jay again who sent me The Webb Sisters EP, featured below - not forgetting Ellie too who is always sending me some awesome music, most recently Dave McPerson, who will be featuring in a future post). 

When you discover a band has toured the US 11 times, the reflex thought is something along the lines of, 'Wow, 11 years and they've been going back again and again'. But oh no. Bell X1's tour bus must have had several new engines fitted, a new exhaust for each tour and who knows how many tyres. Those 11 times they have achieved in just 4 years! That doesn't even take into account the other locations they've played. Madness! It's like a walk in the park for this Irish band and their alternative ambient sound. I'll be making a point of getting acquainted with previous works (Chop Chop will be their 6th studio album) but these first two songs from this latest record (due out at the end of June) have bowled me over, to say the least. They are angelic, sublime and sensational all rolled into one. Chop Chop has been produced by The National's long time producer Peter Katis and the entire album is a wonderful experiment using textures and minimalism. Starlings Over Brighton Pier! WOW! There's a way to open an album and then there is this stunning song. The build up. The melody. Those lyrics and vocals. It is so gentle but not. Makes no sense I know but listen to it and it's like all the sense in the world is made clear in that moment. This is music at its most beautiful. Likewise, Careful What You Wish For takes aural beauty even further. The same stripped back elements are used but in such a fundamental way there is a profundity inherent in the finished tune.

The video for Starlings moved me quite deeply too. The music fits the flight of the mesmerizing murmuration of starlings so perfectly I'll be hearing it in my head every time I see a flock of birds take flight. It's as if the two are intricately linked on some spiritual level. For the simplicity of these tunes, they are breathtaking and I am left ravenous for the remaining 7 tracks. http://bellx1.com/

THE WEBB SISTERS ARE HEADING HOME

Leonard Cohen refers to Charley and Hattie Webb as "the sublime Webb Sisters". And he should know as the sisters are backing singers to the mighty Canadian music legend. A listen to this, their latest EP (but my first) When Will You Come Home and it becomes instantly apparent why he calls them thus. They have harmonies so beautiful I think sending them to a galaxy far far away a long time ago and all they'd need to do would be to sing and The Force would come into balance. Just like that. No more Empire, no more death and destruction at the hands of the Sith and their dark side cause (even though personally I am a Sith fan, I must confess). Just an opening line and The Webb Sisters would bring peace to the universe.

Even as this EP is released the sisters are in the midst of a very long Leonard Cohen tour. There are 5 magnificent tracks on the record including a few new songs, two stunning versions of Cohen's own Show Me The Place and also a wonderful cover of Elvis classic Always On My Mind. If songs could be diamond encrusted then opening track Missing Person would sparkle as bright as any star in the night sky. It instantly sets the mood and there's no doubt you are in for a real gentle musical treat. Something special from a terrifically talented duo. Then they stun you with that wonderful version of Always On My Mind which I could happily listen to on repeat for years. Years, I tell thee. Head to their online shop >>here<< which has links to the various places you can buy their music. Alternatively head to the ProperMusic website to get a CD from there.

There are no limits to their achievements and abilities with proficiency not only vocally but as accomplished multi-instrumentalists. There is guitar, piano, mandolin and drums as you might expect from such a skilled duo but also harp, to boot. Harp! This to match their divine vocal sound. Drawing from the British and US folk pop traditions, The Webb Sisters have recorded three albums and built up a following on their extensive touring around the globe. They have also performed for royalty, twice for Princess Anne and once for The Queen. (Never thought I'd be writing those two names in a music blog post.) The sisters were also invited to sing on Sting's album If On A Winter's Night and have toured with the likes of Jamie Cullum, Rufus Wainwright (legend), Jason Mraz, James Morrison, Katie Melua and Joe Echo. http://www.thewebbsisters.com/

CHRIS GILLETT SHARES HIS SECRET SIN

I wasn't sure what I should expect from The Scholars guitarist Chris Gillett's solo EP Secret Sin. As part of the band he plays some pretty awesome guitar. This solo project is a completely different approach and sound. It is one that works damn well too. The 6 tracks comprising this collection demonstrate the diverse range of Chris' abilities and talents. Just how he is able to use so many different individual sounds, manipulate them, tweak them here and then a bit more there. All using vocals and acoustic guitar. The guitar comes through wonderfully on opening track Promise and also on my personal favourite Your Eyes Depict All The Time You Wasted On Me.

I love how ambient it is overall but that really comes to the fore with tracks like Paranoia. There's a real menace behind it. The paranoid atmosphere is built up nicely, leaving you looking around you before too long. Then again on Your Eyes, Chris has built up a sense of such depth it feels like if you fall you'll never hit the bottom. The lyrics are incredibly thought-provoking, highly emotive, and at times on the darker side but they are a perfect match to the music. There's an electronic undercurrent throughout, something that comes fully to the surface on Stay and reminds me of some Aphex Twin.  Secret Sin is fantastic and quite accomplished considering it is only a debut. It isn't just moody by default either, it pulls you right in to those moods so you can taste and smell them. This is definitely one you should be checking out and when it's available for just £1 what are you waiting for?? http://chrisgillett.bandcamp.com/

A BACON CAKE? YES PLEASE

It do be time for some bacon! I must apologise to the good Mr Alex Harford of The Cakes because I have been planning to feature this since some time in February. Such is the hectic nature of all the music toppling down on me. I'm still loving it so please keep sending it and just accept my most humble of apologies for any delay in me sharing stuff.

Believe In Bacon is the latest EP from this indie post-punk alternative pop rock band from Newstokastle-Underon-Lentyme. Sounds like a magical fantasy land doesn't it? A land where bacon cakes are a delicacy of the noble lords. The 3-track collection is available from their bandcamp page as a FREE download but if The Cakes get some money they can make a full album and this is something that needs to happen. It could even be a concept album based in this bacon cake filled fantasy world. The noble House of The Cakes (complete with their cakey sigil on their cakey banners) are at war with House Bacon (complete with....well you get the picture). Am I taking it too far? Apologies, but the humour of these guys and their penchant for wordplay is infectious. Their lyrics are lighthearted packing enough humour to render you laughing like you've been on laughing gas. The music is interesting, moody and atmospheric.Overall, this is inspiring, original music

Love this, taken from their bandcamp site: the music is usually lighthearted and fun, but occasionally dark...like The Clash tickling Spandau Ballet and accidentally beheading them. https://www.facebook.com/thecakesband

THE CEDARS 

Described on their Facebook page as the soundtrack to a wild, liquor-fuelled hoe-down is enough to entice people in by the jet load! Bringing the alternative country rock from across the Atlantic and rooting it deep in the UK is not an easy task by any stretch. Okay, not ALL the US bands or artists in the genre are going to be amazing but when people from different lands take up the mantle and make the sound their own, they have to be given the credit. When it is as spot on and awesome as what The Cedars achieve there should be awards flying here, there and everywhere.

Their debut album Little Copper Still was released digitally on  11th March this year. A physical CD release followed on 8th April. So, I'm not too late then with this one although this is not an album review. Not yet anyway. I just wanted to feature them because what I've heard so far fills me with joy. It is snap your fingers, strum the guitar, pick the banjo fuelled beauty, with a bad ass bass and drum beat to boot!

The band also contributed the song Used Cars to their record label's (Clubhouse Records) superb tribute album to mark the 30th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. There are some live dates up on their website so get checking them out as they get ready to to dazzle folk at a few festivals. My time to be dazzled by them will come at Wood Festival where they will also partake in re-creating the Nebraska tribute gig they participated in with the other Clubhouse Records acts. My apologies for having to keep this brief but there will be more from The Cedars in the future. http://www.thecedarsonline.com/

AND THIS JUST IN....

HAPPY DAGGER MOVE CLOSER

I must agree with Leeds Music Scene when they say Happy Daggers are 'One of the hottest acts on the scene' because it is true! This is the kind of energetic indie rock n soul that will get the most lethargic of listeners up off their backsides to have a little boogey. It is absolutely awesome stuff and I wish it wasn't only a 'thing just in' feature because I'd like to explore them much more. I will do soon enough though so expect more from this terrific band in the near future. Their musical craftmanship is of the highest quality and the production is stunning. I fell instantly for the vocals as well. This has the lot. There has been something missing from the music scene, I think and finally Happy Daggers show up with this superb solution. https://www.facebook.com/happydaggersband

AND FINALLY...

25, 26, 27, 28 JULY 2013
CHERRY HINTON HALL GROUNDS

FULL-LINE UP NOW ANNOUNCED

 

NEW NAMES

Amadou & Mariam (Fri)  The Staves (Sun)  Tommy Emmanuel (Sat)

Thea Gilmore (Sat)  The Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Sat/Sun)  Darrell Scott (Fri)

Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo (Fri)  Jamie Smith’s Mabon (Thurs)

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band (Sun)  Valerie June (Sun)

CLUB TENT SHOWCASES

Ross Couper & Tom Oakes (Fri)  Blair Dunlop (Sat)  Ewan McLennan (Sat)   

Nick Mulvey (Sun)   Emma Sweeney (Sun)

THE DEN (EMERGING TALENT STAGE)

Marika Hackman (Thurs)  Hudson Taylor (Fri)  Common Tongues (Fri)

Blue Rose Code (Sat)  Rae Morris (Sun)

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED NAMES

The Mavericks (Sat)  The Waterboys (Sun)   Bellowhead (Fri) 

KT Tunstall (Sat)  Levellers (Fri)

Liam O’Flynn, Andy Irvine, Paddy Glackin & Dónal Lunny aka LAPD (Fri)  Capercaillie (Sun)  Shelby Lynne (Sat)  BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet (Sat/Sun)  Heritage Blues Orchestra (Sat)  Patty Griffin (Fri)  Lucy Rose (Thurs)  

Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick (Sun)   Mud Morganfield Band (Sun)  

Martin Simpson (Sat/Sun)  Le Vent du Nord  (Sat/Sun) Sam Lee & Friends (Fri)  Breabach (Sat/Sun)  Heidi Talbot (Sat/Sun)  The Chair  (Sat/Sun)  

Mokoomba (Sat)  Willy Mason (Thurs)  The Bombay Royale (Fri) 

Bella Hardy & The Midnight Watch (Sat) Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman (Thurs)

John Hegley (Sun)  Frigg (Fri/Sat)  Larkin Poe (Thurs/Fri) 

Jim Moray’s Silent Ceilidh (Sat)  Brian McNeill (Fri/Sat)   We Banjo 3 (Sat/Sun)  Korrontzi (Fri/Sat) Sketch (Sun) Monster Ceilidh Band (Fri) 

State Of The Union (Sat)  English String Band (Fri)   The Willows (Thurs) 

Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar (Sat/Sun)  Rusty Shackle (Thurs)

The Brass Funkeys (Thurs)  Peter Buckley Hill (Sun)

TIS' THE SEASON

No sooner as our rather late Spring sprung than the 2013 festival season will soon be upon us too. Look out for my Wood Festival post coming up very shortly but in the meantime I MUST share with you the final announcement about Europe's most acclaimed folk festival. I was sincerely wishing, dreaming and even preying that I would be able to make this festival a part of my 2013 mission of coverage for the blog. BUT, sadly due to the regular financial issues it just can't be done. Maybe next year, ay? Anywho, just because I'm unable to attend doesn't stop me featuring news and information about it on here. Who knows, as tis' the season and all that perhaps there will be some miracle and I'll bag that job in music journalism or PR meaning I can go after all. We have to dream.

If I had time I would cry for not being able to make it as there are acts on this smashing line-up I desperately want to see live. Like, headliners Bellowhead, The Waterboys and KT Tunstall for instance, but that merely scratches the surface. What I'd give to see Thea Gilmore, Blair Dunlop and Ewan McLennan. There's the legend that is Patty Griffin, the legend that is becoming Willy Mason; not to mention legends in their own rights given their masterful musicianship and flawless vocals such as Larkin Poe, Lucy Rose and Sam Lee. *whispers and gestures you to come closer* 'Come here, there's more...' The BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winning duo Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman will delight festival goers with their sublime mix of traditional folk songs with their own unique contemporary twists. Expect many a tune from their most recent fabulous album, Hidden People. Those mighty Levellers will headline the Friday night with folk juggenaut Bellowhead. That alone ought to start you jigging and moshing into a momentum that won't cease until Sunday!

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman aren't the only married duo who will be wooing the crowd, either. They will be joined by groundbreaking and world renowned Malian husband and wife Amadou & Mariam with their superb and infectious vocal interplay and captivating blues sound. The heavenly harmonies of the sublime sibling trio The Staves will take the audience to paradise. It's important to point out here how much Cambridge Folk Festival does to promote promising young talent at the event. They have nurtured The Staves over the last few years. From their 2011 debut in The Den through to the Club Tent and Stage 2. Quite rightly, this years sees them billed on the Main Stage on Sunday. Thea Gilmore has been described by MOJO as 'the most coherent, literate and charged British singer-songwriter of her generation...' and Saturday sees her strut her musical finery on the main stage. Prepare to be majorly WOW'd because you're in for a right treat!

Tell some people (mostly people not quite so much into music) you're going to a folk festival and you may get a funny look. Or a stunned silence before being handed some tweed or something. One thing I've always noticed about Cambridge is how it embraces diversity with the genres of music it promotes. On the one hand you have the folk punk rock of The Levellers, balanced out by the more traditional folk but nevertheless rock-infused Bellowhead. While there is this and a range of much more, there will always be many an act for the more traditionalist fans. Look no further than folkists The Rambling Boys of Pleasure, a group boasting some of  the finest musicians on the Irish traditional music scene. A long way from home and passing through on Friday is US singer, writer and guitarist Darrell Scott with his addictive alternative country soaked heavily in and dripping with boisterous blues. From even further afield you'll be treated to the compelling, the stunning, the magnificence of Western Australia's Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo. That will be one not to miss, if you ask me! Take heed please folks.

As mentioned, this festival supports up and coming talent and this year the five acts selected to play prestigious showcases in the Club Tent are, Ross Couper & Tom Oakes; acclaimed Scottish singer-songwriter Ewan McLennan (who's music has been described as 'a mix of the Tradition, social history and political awareness'); founding member of Mercury Prize nominated Portico Quartet Nick Mulvey; exhilarating fiddle player Emma Sweeney; and last but certainly by no means least will be the 2013 BBC Folk Horizon Award winner Blair Dunlop. (Previous examples include Seth Lakeman, Karine Polwart, Newton Faulkner, Rachel Unthank, Jackie Oates and Jim Moray)

QUICK, EVERYONE INTO THE DEN

Dens were the 'in thing' at one point weren't they? I think they had started going out of fashion (if that even applies in this case?) during my childhood but I remember we had one on some recreation grounds at the back of my Nan's garden. It felt pretty cool to us, anyway. We were about 6 or 7 so judge us not harshly. Anyway, I digress and must not. The Den is the acclaimed fourth stage at the festival. It plays host to some top quality emerging talent across the weekend including: 20-year old folk singer Marika Hackman, who has already been receiving attention from Radio 1; fresh from supporting Jake Bugg on tour will be busking YouTube sensations Hudson Taylor, featuring Irish brothers Harry and Alfie who have blown me clean away with their stunning music; Brighton-based 5-piece indie folk band Common Tongues who continued the theme by blowing me away with such magnificent music - such great stuff. 

LET'S ROUND UP THE ROUND-UP

So let's see then: International headline artists and young emerging talent will be singing and playing their wares across FOUR stages this July. The quality and calibre of acts drawn to perform at Cambridge Folk Festival is a chief reason why year after year it enjoys sell-out success! There's its beautiful and unique parkland location, its superb facilities and family-oriented nature; it really offers something for EVERYONE. From street theatre, music workshops and sessions to open stages, a youth area and even an internet cafe for you to plug yourself in for your online fix. There's a free creche if you parents need a wee break, including a paddling pool and playground. Most importantly of course - well, okay not really MOST importantly but pretty important, in my book anyway - there are REAL ALE bars. 

For online booking please visit: www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk

Phone booking, call: 01223 357 851

Tickets: FULL FESTIVAL: £126; Thursday £20; Friday £45; Saturday £55; Sunday £55. CAMPING: (Full Festival tickets only, per 2-3 berth tent) Cherry Hinton £54, Coldhams Common (second site) £37. Online bookings are subject to a booking fee.

Another HUGE thank you to Jay Taylor at Prescription PR for the Press Release for this festival. Tweet

AND THE WEDNESDAY WINNER IS...: BBC RADIO 2 FOLK AWARDS 2013

Yes, I am crazy! This is a second kind of non-scheduled blog post this week. Yes, I should be working on the final little bit of the concluding part of my overview/review of 2012. It cannot be helped. There is just too much to share. If I didn't write this one and get it out there my fragile mind would collapse under the pressure of so much great music waiting to be shared. I admit, I should have got this tagged on to the bottom of Monday's post but there was just no time. Arrrrg! Stop! Wait! Tonight is the night so I have to get a move on even now. I'm against the clock in all senses of the expression.

I am of course talking about the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Depending on what time I get to hit the publish button on this post, the awards ceremony is either in full swing (indeed it is) or possibly even already over (most likely for later readers). I regret I won't have time to go over it and share the winners before next week but you don't need me to do that. If you've not even watched the show or perhaps even heard about it (what secluded isle do you live on I'd like to know?) then at least now you will have. You should check out some more about it because it is a seminal night of recognition for British Folk music. There is always the added fact that when you watch or listen to such events you will come across a song or artist that bowls you over. Something new will enter you sphere of musicality. Not sure if that last sentence makes grammatical sense but it sounded good so get over it. Ha!

BBC FOLK AWARDS 2013

COMPILATION ALBUM

It isn't all just hard traditional type stuff either so don't be scared away by that. Not that such style should scare you. Unless it's about some mad axe-murdering ghost who tortures his victims to a painfully slow and grisly death using obscure musical instruments that....I think I best stop there before I get closed down. There is so much range to the music covered by all the categories and in turn, the nominees. From traditional to instrumental, progressive to contemporary and beyond. Something for everyone. One particular thing that draws me to most, if not all, forms of folk is how far back into our histories it stretches. Furthermore, how it is often about passing on ancient stories and lore to each generation. It is something inclusive and as a society of music fans, something we can take great pleasure from and indeed, learn from too. I'd not heard of the interesting Doctor James Katriona Gilmore sings about. An important character seemingly wiped from history. 

Check out the sample of 5 tracks above that all feature on this wonderful broad compilation album. It is just £9.48 for 3 CDs filled with songs from the nominees of this year's awards. 

1. Bellowhead with Roll The Woodpile Down, a song that cannot but get you jigging about like a loon. A happy loon and music-induced so fear not, it is a natural thing. The power of that music. These guys are a juggernaut of talent and are up for Best Album (public vote) with their recently released Broadside. It doesn't stop there for them as they are also nominated for Best Group.
2. Second is Dr James from the more youthful duo Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts. Personally I think their latest album, The Innocent Left should have been nominated in the Best Album category but then you have seen how difficult it is for me to narrow these things down. It is a cracking album though, full of originality but with a foot of each of them remaining within the traditional camp. Anyways, they are up for Best Duo.
3. Third is King of Birds from talented singer-songwriter Karine Polwart who has no less than three nominations. Her 2012 album, Traces, is up for Best Album while King of Birds is up for Best Original Song and Karine is nominated for Folk Singer of the Year.
4. Fourth is the very moving and personal The Ballad of Andy Jacobs from Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman. This duo (Kathryn being the sister of Jamie Roberts, if you didn't know) are up for Best Duo as well as this wonderful song being nominated to Best Original Song. Competition in these things is always tough, as it should be, but I sincerely hope Kathryn is recognized for this song. 
5. Fifth and finally is Sea of Okhotsk from Treacherous Orchestra, which I must admit I absolutely love! It is such an interesting and innovative mix of sounds. There's electronica in there amongst so much else. It sounds superb! Treacherous Orchestra are up for Best Group and I wish them well.

As great as the above are and I think these samples showcase the kind of stuff on the album very well, they can barely hope to scratch the surface. With your appetite duly whetted and to prevent further salivations (and with them the risk of severe flood warnings - do be considerate about all the recent melting snow and rains we've been having), you should go buy the album and enjoy the lot at your leisure.

There are 3 CDs full of wonderment, I did mention that didn't I? 3 disks! Yes three! 3! Go get it for a bargain price of £9.48. Or if you're more in to your digital tunes these days you can buy it from iTunes instead >>here<<. For those who still like to do things the old fashioned way (can you believe I'm saying that about CDs? Anyone remember mini-disks? Ha!), check out the ProperMusic website via this link >>here<<, which will take you directly to the album page.

I wish all nominees my sincerest best wishes but it will come as no surprise I'm rooting for the very awesome Luke Jackson to win the Young Folk Award. Rura have bowled me over too, with their song Mary, which is on the album (disk 1) so go get it and enjoy some fantastic music spanning the entire folk genre. And Lau with The Bird That Winds The Spring - just so sublime. There's too much for me to list so just go buy it. You won't regret it. Full tracklisting below.

NEWS JUST IN......

Okay, I am actually watching the awards stream live via the Radio 2 website as I write this so it is hard not to share what's coming as it comes. Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman scooped the first award for Best Duo. So well-deserved and Sean thanked all those fans who keep attending the gigs because that's what makes it for them! So, please keep at it and get yourself along to wonderful live music. There really is nothing quite like it. Next up is The Horizon Award.....which has gone to Blair Dunlop! A very worthy winner indeed! Well done Blair. If you like what you hear from Blair on the compilation CD make sure you go and buy his awesome debut album Blight & Blossom.

CD 1: Bellowhead - Roll The Woodpile Down / Hannah James & Sam Sweeney - The Farmer's Cursed Wife / Anaïs Mitchell - Tailor / Duncan Chisholm - Unknown Air / Kathleen Macinnes - Tha Sneach'd Air Druim Uachdair / Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts - Doctor James / Nic Jones  - Texas Girl's Lament At The Funeral Of Her Father / Emily Portman - Hatchlings / Rura - Mary / Kathryn Tickell - Small Coals

CD 2: Lau - The Bird That Winds The Spring / Maz O'connor - Caw The Yowes / Ross Ainslie -- Lullaby For Mel / O'hooley & Tidow - Gentleman Jack / Luke Jackson - Last Train / Karine Polwart - King Of Birds / Blair Dunlop - Billy In The Lowground / Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman - The Ballad Of Andy Jacobs / The Unthanks - Black Trade / Sam Lee - Wild Wood Amber / Treacherous Orchestra - Sea Of Okhotsk

CD 3: Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar - Working On The New Railroad / Thalla - St. Andrew's Flight / Last Tango In Harris / Luke Jackson - More Than Boys / Graham Mackenzie & Ciorstaidh Beaton - Father Eugene's Welcome To Cape North; St Kilda's Wedding / Mae Bradbury - Shiver / Jack Pout - Breaking Of Old Branches / Matt Tighe - Were You At The Rock?;  The College Groves / Rosie Hodgson - Liverpool Lullaby / The Crosstown Trio - My Heart Is Holding Up A Shield / Hugh Sheehan & Jack Mccaugherty - The Night Before

I must apologize for having to love you and leave you now as I need to sit back and enjoy the rest of this awards show. But, before I do so please enjoy the video below from a US indie folk band I only stumbled across yesterday, thanks to them following me on Twitter first. The song is Don't Give Up On Me and I think WOW sums it up perfectly, in brief. Much more from Harvest Breed to come soon! So delightful.

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THE SPIRAL AWARDS 2013 - WHO WINS? YOU DECIDE!

Howdy folks. While I'm working away hard at part 2 of my 2012 overview/review, I thought I'd take a break to write up a wee little post about the The Spiral Awards 2013. Mostly because it is one big public vote. Well, many public votes I suppose as all categories are open for fans of the artists and bands and of the online magazine to vote as they please. And just about anyone else who cares to pass by and vote I suppose.

Now, compiling my own list of favourites has proven difficult enough so I can fully sympathize with the guys and gals at Spiral as they have put together these nominations. It's totally understandable why they now want to let the public decide on the ultimate winners. Being nominated, however is a win in itself and with it brings exposure and promotion of a kind. As is to be expected, competition is fierce. I don't wish to command you who to vote for but I am going to share with you my own choices for a few of the categories. Please feel free to follow me with some or all but most importantly vote for who you believe deserves to win based on your experiences of them. There are some categories where I'm a fan of several nominees and others where I may only know the one. I don't think there's anything wrong with voting for the one you know and like either, by the way. I come to music via so many different ways and this will be just another. I will likely look up and listen to a number of the other nominees in categories I'm voting. So whereas they may not get my vote this time round, they may well get my listenership.

Public voting closes at noon 14th March so you do have plenty of time to check out the nominees before voting if you'd like to learn more about each. Please do contribute as being chosen by the public and fans will of course mean a lot to these talented folk.

Static on the Airwaves Levellers

The Ornate Lie Kim Edgar

Contraband Kirsty Mcgee

Skulk Jim Moray

Anyone who's kept up with the blog over the past year will know how much of a Levellers fan I am. So, it will come as little surprise I'm voting for Static On The Airwaves for Best Album. Following 2008's magnificent Letters From The Underground was always going to be difficult. With Static, I think the band have managed to do so with something that harks back to a lot of early days kind of stuff. With their added experience and it is far from any simple rehash of that older work, of course. It just has some wicked fiddle on most of the tracks and some wonderful hook-laden choruses that you really can't help but get your feet moving along to. When it is hard to pick standout songs because all are so good you know a band has done its job well. If pushed, I'd have to single out We Are All Gunmen, Truth Is, After The Hurricane and Mutiny but as you can tell I'm in danger of listing them all.

Orfeo Fay Hield and the Hurricane Party

Northumbrian Voices Kathryn Tickell

The Seas Are Deep Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker

Another Day Another Story James Findlay

I saw James Findlay perform when he was supporting Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman last February. While I admit I am more a fan of the more contemporary folk stuff, including the reworked and updated traditional songs, James really impressed me. So much so I bought two of his albums at the gig on the night. I loved how he spontaneously warmed up his voice with a song acapella before warming up the crowd with a host of traditional tunes.

In Time Alister Atkin

The Wild Wild Berry Stephanie Hladowski & C. Joynes

Vice of the People Albion Band

Blight & Blossom Blair Dunlop

 
Now this category presents the first issue. I'm coming down on the side of Blair Dunlop because his debut Blight & Blossom is the album I've heard most. I'm afraid I didn't have time enough to get into Vice Of The People by The Albion Band. This of course is the next generation of The Albion Band and what a damn fine generation it is. Including Blair Dunlop himself, together with Katriona Gilmore and a number of other hugely talented young folk musicians. So why am I not choosing their album then? If I had have been able to hear it more than I have, I may well have chosen it but sadly time, as is always the way, conspires against me. It is a great album though and I highly recommend it.

Blair's Blight & Blossom is also fantastic, which is why I'm selecting that one as my winner in this category. I was supposed to go see him play in Milton Keynes but sadly it was during the Great Manflu attack of 2012. That pesky virus lingered on for weeks and weeks and I was coughing so much I didn't want to ruin it for other folk. Next time, Blair, I shall be there!

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman

Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin

Gilmore & Roberts

O'Hooley & Tidow

On my latest podcast (#12) I expressed how much of a difficult time this category would give me when mentioning two acts in particular, going head to head for the Best Duo at the BBC2 Radio 2 Folk Awards this year. To now be faced with just such a decision for these awards means this post is now a day later than I'd planned. Seriously, how does one possibly choose one over the other when both acts mean quite a fair bit to me? This is the very case whereby it needs to be possible to vote for two. I feel queasy having to actually make a firmer decision. I came to Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman thanks to randomly buying their second album at the first Seth Lakeman gig I attended a few years back (I'd already got all of Seth's at this point). I absolutely loved it! Rule & Bant from that album is one of my favourite songs (and was played on podcast #12). Their long-awaited return as a duo on the music circuit was cemented in the summer with the release of their third album, Hidden People. I reviewed it >>here<< and have seen them live three times now. As the shows I'd seen before the latest album proved, they are a world class musical pairing who have perhaps been underrated due to their absence from centre stage for a number of years.

I bet there's no sibling rivalry in real life (these folk are just too lovely) as Kathryn's brother Jamie makes up the Roberts component of Gilmore & Roberts. Katriona Gilmore is every bit as humble and personable as Kathryn, as she talks the audience through stories about the songs they played at the gig I went to in October. They had been on my radar already but as you will be aware I get so much music these days sometimes I miss out on amazing things. I count these guys amongst those amazing things! I am just grateful that as a part of doing all this music stuff I was asked if I wanted to review their latest album The Innocent Left. Is a cat one of the laziest domestic animals in existence? So I snapped that one up and my review can be read >>here<<. It is partly me reviewing the album as to why I didn't get a write up about the gig shortly after that evening of magical entertainment. I have however written up a review of it for part 2 of the overview/review.

So....yes....I can ramble on as much as I'd like but I still have to choose who I'm voting for don't I? Right! Well.....do I have to choose? You see why I sometimes have issues selecting the individual songs for the podcast. Okay then. I have to do it. I'm going to go for Gilmore & Roberts! I'm saying nothing further on the matter. I feel bad enough as it is. Not for choosing Gilmore & Roberts because they so deserve to win with their wonderful combination (both live & recorded) but I sincerely love Kathryn & Sean's work. I would be useless on an award committee wouldn't I?



 

Because Of You Nicky Swann

Cosmonaut Nick Cave ft. Emmylou Harris

The Ballad Of Andy Jacobs Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman

Young Man In America Anais Mitchell

I can go some way to redeeming myself and feeling less upset at not being able to select Kathryn & Sean for the Best Duo category as well by voting for Kathryn's heartbreaking and thoroughly moving original song, The Ballad of Andy Jacobs. It's one of those where just a few presses down on the piano keys is enough to make you well up. It is striking in the imagery she paints for you with both music and words so that you really get inside Andy's life and feel for what things must have been like for these folk during those times. You can smell the coal and the burning as that fire takes hold towards the end. This is one remarkable achievement and needs to be recognized accordingly. It better win at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards too, as it is nominated in the same category there.

Nick Burbridge

Anais Mitchell

Ewan McLennan

Karine Polwart

This is another category that threatened to prove a tough choosing challenge. Ewan McLennan has written some really great stuff that I enjoy. Karine Polwart released her most recent album last year too, proving she has a remarkable songwriting talent. At the risk of over-promoting my own reviews and stuff (I'm going to anyway), I did review Traces >>here<<. It is one stunning album of songs! Even so, the winner hands down for me cannot but be the master storyteller, poet, songwriter, musician and all-round talented Mr Nick Burbridge!

Given his hugely busy schedule thanks to just how many different diverse and wonderful projects he works on, he's not exactly had chance to get out on the road in support of his most recent music collaboration with Tim Cotterell. Gathered was released earlier last year and in my last blog post I described why it was one of my top favourite albums of 2012. Anything from Nick stands out so far ahead of pretty much anything else. Its scope, its quality, its production and most importantly (and the reason he gets my vote as Best Songwriter, without any doubt) the structure and content of the songwriting is just unparalleled! I stand by what I wrote at the end of my bit on Gathered in that last post, 'Nick Burbridge is one of the UK's, even the world's, greatest artistic talents!' Make sure you vote for his efforts and if you've never heard much of his stuff before then get yourself to http://www.burbridgearts.org/ where you will find so much greatness you will be back to vote for him before too long. You can check out Gathered below and then please submit your vote.

Beautiful Days

Sark Folk Festival

Maverick

Cambridge Folk Festival

Again, regular readers and/or listeners will understand why I'm voting for Beautiful Days for the Festival Award. I've been several times myself and it was with great sadness I was unable to make it last year. It is one huge family who all come together to celebrate good independent music and something that feels on the right side of freedom. With any luck I'll be able to get in this year thanks to all the writing I'm doing and so cover some/all of the festival. That is much harder than it sounds to be honest as I found when writing up about last year's Truck Festival. It was an incredible amount of fun though and something I would absolutely without a shadow of a doubt, want to repeat this year. Perhaps I'll hit the jackpot and get to cover Cambridge Folk Festival, Truck Festival and Beautiful Days. That would make one magical mountainous musical summer. Bring it on please!!

Here's the link again for you to submit your own votes: http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/spiralawards2013/

While on the subject of festivals and to bring this wee little (little?? well for me, it is) post to a close I want to share the exciting news that tickets for this year's Truck Festival will be going on sale from 7pm on Monday 4th February. This will start with the final batch of very limited early bird tickets held at 2012 prices. Set reminders or alarms! Make notes with those little magnetic words you have on your fridges (perhaps just the students on that one - I miss those to be fair). Stick up post it notes above the loo and in the shower. Just make sure you get your tickets for one amazing weekend!

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