Songs for the Voiceless is a new album project from Michael J Tinker which aims to bring some of the unknown stories of World War I to light highlighting the people the War impacted upon.
Michael had the idea in 2012 of gathering a number of folk musicians from around the country to write and record an album to tell some of these stories for the centenary commemorations in 2014. Jon Boden of Bellowhead has already contributed a track and he was followed by Gilmore & Roberts, The Young’uns, Tom Oakes and Ian Stephenson of KAN who all agreed to get into the studio with Michael in early 2014 to put this album together.
Producer Andy Bell then came on board to produce and Haystack Records agreed to put the album out. Their aim is to have an album of 10 to 12 songs with different vocalists and musicians from the ‘house band’ taking the lead on each track. They will be sourcing material from the vast wealth of poetry and songs already written as well as writing their own work inspired by the stories of real people.
A kickstarter campaign has started to help raise the funds to make this a reality by helping towards paying artist and studio fees. The launch of the album will be at the Met, Bury on Friday 7th November 2014. Confirmed lineup (so far) The Young’uns, Gilmore & Roberts, Tom Oakes and Michael J Tinker.
Watch the campaign video below:
More details here