Galley Beggar are a six piece folk rock band from the Kent and London area who recently released their debut album Reformation House which we have been plugging in our playlist. They openly admit to being obssessed with the old sound, and by that they are referring to the late 60’s and early 70’s folk rock period where the likes of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Led Zepplin, Nick Drake, Jethro Tull, Fotheringay, Bert Jansch and Pentangle were at their pinnacle. Their vision is to carry on from that period rather than re-invent, no easy task, but they manage it in great style.
As a band they have a wealth of talented musicians on tap combining Harmony vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, violin, recorder, bouzouki, keyboards, bass and drums to create a sound that will appeal to those who remember the heyday of folk rock as well as modern-day folk fans. One thing they are not lacking is variety in their play. Prasanthi Matharu’s violin playing tackles the flourishes and interplay with Frances Tye’s vocals beautifully on Arise Arise. Their version of the Child ballad The Outlandish knight is a bold and driving force whilst Paul Murphy and David Ellis let the mandolins take to the fore with some great rifts on Sir Richard (Child Ballad 68: Young hunting).
Their live performances are, by all accounts, something to behold with plenty of instrument changes and a wide source of traditional folk music from “Cecil Sharp and Francis Child through to electrified psychedelic freakouts”.
Tracks
Tour Dates
Sun, 19 Jun
Leigh-on-Sea, UK
Leigh Folk Festival
Sat, 09 Jul
Brentwood, UK
Brentwood Beer & Music Festival
Sun, 10 Jul
Whitstable, KENT, UK
The Harbour Cafe
Sat, 20 Aug
Swadlicote, UK
Moira Furnace Folk Festival
Sun, 21 Aug
Swadlicote, UK
Moira Furnace Folk Festival
Sun, 28 Aug
Isle of Purbeck, UK
Purbeck Folk Festival
Mon, 29 Aug
Bicester, UK
Bicester Beer Festival
Artist Link
Buy Links
Amazon UK (MP3) Reformation House
iTunes: Reformation House – Galley Beggar