Tonight, 83-year old Shirley Collins will travel from her home in Lewes to BBC Broadcasting House for a rare, live interview with Cerys Matthews on her Radio 2 Blues Show. A longtime fan of Shirley’s, Cerys will be talking to the folk legend about her 1959 field-trip to the US to collect traditional songs with folklorist and field recordist Alan Lomax.
Described as one of the great voices of British folk music, Shirley travelled by boat to America with Lomax to track down and record candid conversations and traditional songs from the bluesmen of the Southern States, to save them from extinction. The interview comes ahead of her show at London’s Roundhouse as part of In the Round on 31 January (more below).
Hear about this important and extraordinary journey live on Radio 2, tonight – Monday 21st January at 9pm (BBC Link).
In the Round 2019
As part of Roundhouse presents In the Round 2019, a series of shows devoted to intimate performances set in the venue’s iconic main space, staged in a rarely seen fully-seated concert set up, Shirley will be performing on Thursday 31st January (TICKETS). The series also features shows from Ana Moura, Fatima, Gruff Rhys, Patti Smith, The Hot Sardines, Ronnie Spector, Sam Palladio, Jim James and This Is The Kit.
In 2016, she made a triumphant return to the UK music scene after a 38-year absence with the album Lodestar (reviewed here). Arguably her strongest ever work, Lodestar was extolled by critics and nominated for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, as well as featuring in the top five albums of the year in both the Quietus and Wire Magazine. Sussex-born Collins’ story is itself straight from a ballad and has been well documented – after a painful break up from her then-husband, she lost her voice on stage in the late 70s and was diagnosed with dysphonia, a condition often associated with psychological trauma. Before this, she had enjoyed a prolific career spanning over 20 years, from a formative period travelling across America on a field-trip collecting songs with Alan Lomax in 1959, to a lengthy tenure as one of the most significant singers at the forefront of the English folk revival. Performing solo, as well as in a duo with her late sister Dolly, she also worked with Davy Graham and as a key member of the Albion Country Band.
This will be an unforgettable performance. Read our live review of Shirley’s 2017 Barbican performance here.
Since its inception in 2016, In the Round has become known for its special sets from an eclectic mix of artists. Its bold and adventurous programming has made it a fixture on the musical calendar and an exciting start to the year.
Doors 7pm / Tickets £15-£30
Roundhouse presents In the Round
22 January – 31 January 2019
http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/2019/in-the-round/
Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road,
London, NW1 8EH
Tickets roundhouse.org.uk