This spring sees The Askew Sisters launch their bold and long-awaited new album ‘Enclosure’. Emily and Hazel have become known as two of the foremost performers and interpreters of English folk music. Together they rework and reinterpret songs and balladry to creating breath-taking arrangements, which allow words that are hundreds of years old to resonate profoundly with contemporary audiences. ‘Enclosure’ is inspired by the land enclosure movements as well as wider themes of freedom, captivity and disconnection from the natural world. Five years since their last album, the arrangements and production on ‘Enclosure’ take a new direction for the duo, but the album is still unmistakably the Askew Sisters, featuring gritty cello alongside sweeping fiddles and melodeon, and Hazel’s captivating vocals.
The album will be officially launched on May 3rd and the sisters will be on tour across throughout March – May to celebrate, including an official launch at Cecil Sharp House in London on 24th April. Full tour dates below.
The sisters are also crowdfunding to help them finish the last few bits to get the ‘Enclosure’ out into the world, you can find more about how to support them here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-askew-sisters-album-enclosure#/backers
You can also get a taste of the album with the official video of ‘Goose & Common’ below, an old rhyme about the land enclosures that Hazel set to music.
Askew Sisters Tour Dates
March
22 AYLESBURY: Limelight Theatre
24 MAIDENHEAD: Norden Farm Centre for the Arts
28 SHEFFIELD: The Greystones
29 LEICESTER: The Guildhall
30 DORSET: Lyme Folk Weekend Revisited
31 DORSET: Square & Compass
April
2 DARTFORD: Dartford Folk Club
4 BEDFORD: The Place
5 BARNARD CASTLE: The Witham
6 YORK: Thorganby Folk
7 BURY: The Met
12 DERBYSHIRE: Spring Bank Arts Centre, New Mills
16 FAREHAM: Ashcroft Arts Centre
17 DEVON: The Plough @ The George, South Molton
18 CORNWALL: Calstock Arts
19 BRISTOL: Downend Folk Club
24 LONDON ALBUM LAUNCH: Cecil Sharp House
27 CAMBRIDGE: Fitzwilliam College
May
26/27 CHESTER: Folk Festival
June
7 WIMBORNE: Folk Festival
More details and ticket links here: http://www.askewsisters.co.uk/