On the Folk Show this week, we bring you some of the very best in British folk music as well as traditional Irish music from Dublin’s Skipper’s Alley, and transatlantic collaboration courtesy of Dirk Powell and his new album ‘When I Wait For You‘ which is also one of our Featured Albums of the Month.
Among the latest new folk music releases we have Garefowl – a project marking two anniversaries connected to the archipelago of St Kilda, which lies in the Atlantic Ocean 50 miles west of the Outer Hebrides: 180 years since the last Great Auk (or “garefowl” as they were called in St Kilda) in the UK was killed there, and 90 years since the inhabitants were evacuated in 1930. Ewan Macdonald (The Idumea Quartet, Band of Burns, Root & Branch) and his father Murdo -relatives of one of the men who killed the great auk, Lachlan MacKinnon -conceived the project to reflect on and mark this family history. Read more about the project here: http://garefowl.co.uk/
Glasgow based, Orkney born contemporary folk musician Kris Drever delivers his new single Hunker Down / That Old Blitz Spirit –
“Hunker down was originally a tweet written by my comedian friend Paul ‘Silky’ White during the early part of the C19 pandemic. It just read like a poem to me so I asked if it’d be ok if I finished it. He had written the chorus and verse two and I finished it with verse one and the middle 8. To me, it marks that moment in time neatly”
The single features on his new solo album “Where The World Is Thin” (due October 2nd, 2020).
We have another track from Richard Thompson‘s lockdown all-acoustic EP Bloody Noses which is available via Bandcamp. Along with harmony vocals from Zara Phillips, Thompson plays all the instruments himself.
Fay Hield delivers her new album Wrackline on 11th September via Topic Records which was produced by Andy Bell and features top musicians Rob Harbron, Sam Sweeney, Ben Nicholls and Ewan MacPherson. Jenny Wren is the second track from the album, you can see the video for the album opener Hare Spell here. Of the track, Fay says Jenny Wren is:
“A response to the Cruel Mother, trying to understand the feelings of rejection, being ostracised from society and giving birth alone. The ending is ambiguous, letting you decide if they become bird spirits or if she nurtures the child within nature”
Taken from Stick in the Wheel‘s latest album Hold Fast, it was impossible to resist this album highlight – Villon Song which we featured the video for recently (also, make sure you check out their recent visit to Cecil Sharp House, the English folk music and dance arts centre – where they poured through their folk music archives to share a choice selection of British folk nuggets – watch it here).
The final new release is from Lauren MacColl, A’ Cheapach na Fàsach is taken from her new album Landskein (out now – order via https://laurenmaccoll.bandcamp.com/). The word Landskein refers to the weaving & braiding of horizon lines, often seen most clearly on hazy days in hill country. Being a lover of drone music, this track suited the slowing down of the show as we reach the finale and you can really appreciate Lauren’s decision to add additional drones via Estey pump organ and electric guitar.
Of the album, Lauren says Landskein is:
“…a collection of music that reflects my personal connection to the Highland landscape, a love of the hills, and a return home. I hope you find a stillness within it.”
Needless to say, there are a few fellow Scottish artists featured in the show including Mairi Morrison and Alasdair Roberts, Alasdair White and Maeve Mackinnon – also part of the reason we chose the image of the Salt Marshes on the Isle of Harris, Scotland.
Listen via Mixcloud here: https://www.mixcloud.com/folkradiouk/folk-show-episode-82/
Music Played
- Dirk Powell – Ain’t Never Fell
- Skipper’s Alley – Tralee Gaol
- Garefowl – Hion Daila Horo Ri Ho Hion Daila Là
- Mairi Morrison and Alasdair Roberts – Làrach Do Thacaidean
- Kris Drever – Hunker Down / That Old Blitz Spirit
- Richard Thompson – Survivor
- Fay Hield – Jenny Wren
- Martin Carthy – Handsome Polly-O
- A.L. Lloyd – A Jug Of Punch
- Anne Briggs – Sullivan’s John
- Stick in the Wheel – Villon Song
- Alasdair White – The Weatherman/Fiona Katz’s Reel/Calder’s Reel/A’ Phige Ruadh
- Maeve Mackinnon – Dh’fhalbh Mo Run Air An Aiseig (My Love Left On A Ferry)
- Jarlath Henderson – Young Edmund In The Lowlands Low
- Lauren MacColl – A’ Cheapach na Fàsach
- Lou Killen – Sheffield Apprentice
- A.L. Lloyd – A Jug Of This
Photo by Nils Leonhardt (Salt Marshes, Isle of Harris, Scotland).