After a brilliant reception for his debut album ‘North Ten‘ Ross Wilson aka Blue Rose Code is set to return with his his second album ‘The Ballads Of Peckham Rye‘ on 2 June 2014. Around this time last year Simon interviewed Ross (read it here) in what was one of the most open and honest pieces we’ve probably featured on Folk Radio UK. As well as talking about his struggles he also shared those uplifting highs which included the opportunity to work with Danny Thompson – “The finest moment in my career as a musician to date.”
‘The Ballads Of Peckham Rye‘ sees the return of Danny Thompson as a guest musician along with an incredible line-up of some of the best British folk music artists out there:
“the new album features an eyewatering ensemble of world class musicians – Danny Thompson (Pentangle, John Martyn, Kate Bush, Nick Drake, Tim Buckley), Karine Polwart (winner of 4 Radio 2 Folk Awards), Aidan O’ Rourke (LAU, Multiple Radio 2 Folk Award winner including Musician of the Year 2014), Rachel Newton (Furrow Collective, The Elizabethan Session, R2 Folk Award Winner) & Dave Milligan (Dave Milligan Trio, The Unusual Suspects)”
The album was co-produced with Alex Pilkington (Sophie Barker, Beth Hirsch) and the first single ‘One Day At A Time‘ is out on 19th May featuring the beautiful voice of Mercury nominee Kathryn Williams. You can get a taster of that track along with ‘Oh, North‘, an ode to Scotland with arms outstretched and sung in a style Ross playfully refers to as “Scots gospel”, or ‘The Right To Be Happy’, 3 minutes of lapsteel-laced, high kicking Americana.
Coming off the back of a joint tour with, BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year, Bella Hardy as Wilson & Hardy and fresh from playing with Danny Thompson at his 75th birthday sessions, Ross will take his band around the UK in May to celebrate the release of this extraordinary album. The tour will coincide with the release of the first single from the album ‘One Day At A Time’ (OUT: 19 May) backed with a radio edit of album track ‘Silent Drums’ and remixes of’True Ways of Knowing’ by, Sunday Best signings, Lucky Elephant, and a Hiatus remix of ‘Edina’, a song of reconciliation inspired by Ross’ relationship with his hometown of Edinburgh.
Tour Dates
MAY
02 – Pocklington Arts Centre w/Kathryn Williams
07 – The Bicycle Shop, Norwich
09 – The Cookie Jar, Leicester
10 – Waterbeach Chapel, Cambridge
14 – The Kazimier, Liverpool
16 – The Cluny 2, Newcastle
17 – CCA, LAUNCH PARTY Glasgow
18 – The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore
19 – The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
23 – Victoria Hall, Settle
24 – The Fishpond, Matlock Bath
29 – The Wee Gig, Abington
30 – Northern Roots Festival, Inverness
31 – Elm House, Fife
JUNE
02 – The Basement, York
04 – Old St Pancras Church LAUNCH PARTY, London
07 – Miss Peapods, Cornwall