Anyone who has listened to our latest Folk Show here would have heard At the Ebb, a new track from one of the freshest sounding groups to have emerged on Scotland’s folk scene of late – Fara. The quartet features fiddlers Kristan Harvey, Jeana Leslie and Catriona Price, alongside pianist Jennifer Austin.
The track was taken from their second long player Times from Times Fall (out on 19th October) – a celebration of their homeland packed with self-composed tunes and songs primarily drawn from the words of Orcadian poets.
Today, we have another track to share, take a listen to The Port Polka // Rognvald Ritch The Little // The Shore, a set which opens the album and which begins with two of several co-writes featured on the album. As they say “Having included some of our own compositions on our debut album, Cross the Line, we decided it might be fun to up the ante and try writing with four minds instead of one. Turns out it was – phew!”
https://soundcloud.com/faragirls/fara-times-from-times-fall-4
They found working together in one room to be a wonderful team-building experience and one which gave rise to new and different ideas. That included using the three fiddles in a manner almost akin to how they already employ vocal harmonies, adding further layers and texture to their sound.
In addition to three writing retreats, some of the music had its genesis on the road in America, as the band spent several weeks touring across the pond prior to recording at Castlesound Studios, just outside Edinburgh, in June.
The album was produced by top Scottish folk guitarist Anna Massie and the sound engineer was studio owner Stuart Hamilton. All four women say the process of working together as adults has created something of a FARA “sisterhood”. Twinned with a musical know-how acquired through study and time spent recording and performing within a diverse array of prominent projects, that makes for a potent creative mix.
Don’t miss the on album tour which kicks off this month and runs through to October. It includes two nights at London’s Slaughtered Lamb. See dates below.
…one of the most exciting new bands to come from Scotland in the last few years. A mix of high-energy fiddle-driven along by expressive and imaginative piano; compelling songs with perfectly executed, intricate vocals and a level of musicianship that…is an affirmation of the collective skill these four highly accomplished musicians bring to the studio. Neil McFadyen (Folk Radio UK)
UK Dates: September / October 2018
Mon 3 Sept. Nettlebed Village Club, HENLEY ON THAMES
Tue 4 Sept. Slaughtered Lamb, LONDON
Wed 5 Sept. Slaughtered Lamb, LONDON
Thu 6 Sept. Liverpool Philharmonic Room, LIVERPOOL
Fri 7 Sept. The Ram Cub, THAMES DITTON
Sat 8 Sept. Bromyard Folk Festival, BROMYARD
Sun 9 Sept. Bromyard Folk Festival, BROMYARD
Wed 12 Sept. Oran Mor, GLASGOW
Thu 13 Sept. Beacon Arts Centre, GREENOCK
Fri 14 Sept. Colonsay Festival, COLONSAY
Sat 15 Sept. Colonsay Festival, COLONSAY
Mon 17 Sept. Soundhouse @ the Traverse, EDINBURGH
Thu 20 Sept. Carnegie Hall, PORTMAHOMACK
Fri 21 Sept. West Kilbride Village Hall, WEST KILLBRIDE
Sat 20 Oct. Masham Town Hall, MASHAM
Sun 21 Oct. Ropetackle Arts Centre, SHOREHAM BY THE SEA
Thu 25 Oct. The Fleece Inn, BRETFORTON
Fri 26 Oct. Brook Hall, EMSWORTH
Sat 27 Oct. The Junction, CAMBRIDGE
For ticket links and to pre-order the album head here http://faramusic.co.uk/
Photo Credit: Mike Guest