Over the next few months, Kings Place, London will be hosting a brilliant array of Folk and Americana artists. For October there are some of the best names in folk including Marry Waterson & David A. Jaycock, Faustus, Maddy Prior, Noel Hill, as well as two album launches from Leveret and Martin Simpson. Below, we preview the month ahead.
Marry Waterson & David A. Jaycock
Sat. 30 September
Marry Waterson and David A. Jaycock are set to release their second album as a duo, the wonderful Death Had Quicker Wings Than Love, out 29th September via One Little Indian.
Faustus
Wed. 11th October
Featuring Saul Rose (Waterson:Carthy, Whapweasel), Benji Kirkpatrick (Seth Lakeman Band, Bellowhead) and Paul Sartin (Bellowhead, Belshazzar’s Feast), Faustus graced us last year with Death and Other Animals. In the same year in which they were artists in residence at Halsway Manor, the 15th Century building nestling on the flanks of Somerset’s Quantock Hills that houses the National Centre for Folk Arts. As Johnny said in his review: “With this album, their musicianship has been given more room to shine, both with instrumental solos and with arrangements of a complexity that can only come from a band thoroughly at ease with each other and with their instruments. Putting all of that together they produce music that is true to its roots, relevant to today and, above all, ridiculously enjoyable.”
Leveret: Inventions Album Launch
Wed. 11 October
Featuring Andy Cutting, Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron, this month sees the release of Leveret‘s new album Inventions (one of our Featured Albums of the Month). In his review of the album, Thomas concluded “A clue to Leveret’s appeal lies in the title of this album. In stepping away from what we know as traditional material they have allowed their inventiveness to take centre stage, and the results are frequently astonishing. The whole thing was recorded live in the studio, and it shows in the innovative and improvisational feel of the music. The joy of collaboration, the gleeful abandonment of fixed musical terrain and the excitement of the new are all apparent on this wonderful collection. Since their formation, Leveret have been one of the most enviably talented groups of folk musicians on the circuit, but with the sheer creativity shown on Inventions they have moved up another gear.”
Martin Simpson: Trails and Tribulations Album Launch
Sat. 21 October
This should need no introduction to our readers as Martin is currently our Artist of the Month. In his review, Glenn referred to the album as being “A classy, elegant” you can read his review here. He also interviewed Martin about the album in which Martin spoke about his songwriting and how he couldn’t have written such an album thirty years ago adding “emotionally as well as everything else, there’s a huge amount going on with this album.” As Genn said, “It’s this breeze of gentle wisdom and nature that permeates through Trails and brings with it a sense of security and reassurance in the confidence of a performer.” Not to be missed.
Maddy Prior
Mon. 23 October
A true legend of British music, Maddy Prior has built her career on exploring various musical avenues. Latest album 3 For Joy is no exception, a further exploration of the tradition that she loves.
Return to Camden: Noel Hill & Artisan Row
Fri. 27 October
As part of the Irish trad festival Return to Camden, this double concert is sure to pull a crowd.
Few musicians in any field achieve a position where audiences and experts agree on their pre-eminence and mastery of an instrument, Noel Hill’s virtuosity has firmly established him as the defining Irish concertina player of our time. Noel’s third solo album Irish Concertina 3, released in 2017, was recorded live in New York. His recording credits stem back to his iconic 1970s recording with Tony Linnane (fiddle) and Alec Finn (bouzouki). He has toured worldwide including Europe, USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong and Australia.
The four members of Artisan Row have been important musicians on London’s traditional/folk circuit for nearly 20 years, featuring Conor Doherty (guitars/ vocal), Elma McElligott (sax, flute, whistle), Pete Quinn (piano) and Karen Ryan (banjo, mandola, fiddle, whistle). In 2017, they will release their debut album Wind Winds.
Click here for tickets, further details and more Folk and American at Kings Place.