Update 1 Sept 2021: Read our review of Fallow Ground here.
Having parted ways back in 2014, Spiers & Boden are back together again with a new album on the horizon titled Fallow Ground, which you can pre-order from today.
In October 2013, having just announced their 2014 spring tour, John Spiers & Jon Boden dropped a folk bomb when they announced that they were hanging up their highly regarded hats as the Spiers & Boden duo. By this point, they had performed together as a duo for over a decade and were a key part of Eliza Carthy’s Mercury Prize-nominated ‘Ratcatchers’ band and notably, were the movers behind the foundation of Bellowhead, a band that would soon announce they were signing to Island Records for the release of Revival.
The Guardian declared them ‘the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’, and you’d be hard-pushed to find an English folk fan that thought otherwise. Having rocketed onto the music scene in 2001, they quickly won a clutch of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, going on to take the folk scene by storm.
Spiers and Boden first played together in 1999 and released their first album, ‘Through & Through’ via the Fellside label in 2001. In 2002 they played on Eliza Carthy’s Mercury-nominated ‘Anglicana’ album and subsequently toured with her. 2003 saw the duo win the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, followed by scooping up accolades for Best Duo in 2004 and 2006. In 2004 whilst on tour together, they came up with the concept of Bellowhead. In 2011, Spiers and Boden released their last album, ‘The Works’ (Navigator) – an acclaimed compilation of re-recorded tracks from their previous five albums. In Spring 2013, the duo undertook the innovative Backyard Songs tour, playing material relevant to each show’s environment and inviting local audiences to contribute local songs, dances and folklore.
Several years on, having also explored solo projects, the duo are back with a brand new 13 track album ‘Fallow Ground’ plus festival appearances and a 23 date UK tour (including the Spiers & Boden Festival at Cecil Sharp House, London on 9th October).
For those curious about the title, ‘Fallow Ground’ is not only a reference to the duo’s choice to put Spiers & Boden to one side for a time but also to the huge impact that the pandemic has had on live music. The decision to return with an album in 2021 was made pre-pandemic and, as a result, ended up being recorded between lockdowns. It’s an album bursting with ideas as well as newfound confidence to let the material speak for itself.
The record is released on Hudson Records this September and is available to pre-order TODAY. You’ll be able to hear the first track released from the album on Monday on all digital platforms.
Fallow Ground features a mixture of 13 songs and tunes, which they are looking forward to playing live. And there are no deaths…something that’s almost unheard of on an English folk album…
‘I guess we were looking for songs during lockdown with a sense of fun and light relief. I realise that there are zero songs about death on this album, which is probably a first and may get us expelled from the English Folk Dance & Song Society. Yes, traditional songs with a joyous edge’
On tour, they will be joined by special guest Lady Nade whose outstanding new album ‘Willing’ we reviewed here. There will also be a full day Spiers & Boden festival at Cecil Sharp House on 9th October. Full dates are below.
The accompanying press for the album shares the following insight into the songs featured:
The songs and tunes selected for ‘Fallow Ground’ are overwhelmingly traditional – a clever mix of rambunctious melodies and contemplative ballads – and are the classic Spiers & Boden mixture of morris tunes, pieces brought back to the 21st century from dusty manuscripts and, of course, a rare ability to conjure their own remarkable tunes.
A particular favourite of John Spiers is Funney Eye found in the 19th century manuscript of fiddler William Henry Giles of Bampton, Oxfordshire (of Bampton of morris fame). The tune was incomplete, so Spiers says he ‘used his intuition’ to finish it off. Bluey Brink comes from the repertoire of Peter Bellamy and is the duo’s first foray into the world of Australian folk song. Butter and Cheese and All is also from Peter Bellamy, although this version is Sam Larner’s and is also known as “The Greasy Cook”, “The Cook’s Choice”, or more intriguingly “Cupboard Love.” The title track, also known as “As I Stood under My Love’s Window” or, more prosaically “The Cock,” is an unusual traditional love song in that it’s neither boasting of “conquest” nor is it lamenting betrayal or abandonment – everyone enjoyed themselves! There are also original tracks, such as Bailey Hill / Wittenham Clumps – the first tune written by Jon, the second by John, both about hills which mean something to them; Giant’s Waltz / The Ironing Board Hornpipe inspired by the Giant’s Causeway and The Fog (written by John).
‘I guess we were looking for songs during lockdown with a sense of fun and light relief. I realise that there are zero songs about death on this album, which is probably a first and may get us expelled from the English Folk Dance & Song Society. Yes, traditional songs with a joyous edge’. Jon Boden.
Spiers and Boden’s Fallow Ground is released by Hudson Records on 17th September 2021, with a return to live touring from 5th September – 26th October 2021.
Spiers & Boden Fallow Ground Tour 2021
With Special Guest except* Lady Nade
SEPTEMBER
Sunday, September 5 – Gate to Southwell Festival
Tuesday, September 28 – St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Wednesday, September 29 – Mwldan, Cardigan
Thursday, September 30 – Redgrave Theatre, Bristol
OCTOBER
Friday, October 1 – The Regal, Tenbury Wells
Saturday, October 2 – Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
Sunday, October 3 – Exeter Phoenix, Exeter
Monday, October 4 – Cheese & Grain, Frome
Tuesday, October 5 – Komedia, Brighton
Wednesday, October 6 – Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Friday, October 8 – Revelation, Ashford
Saturday, October 9 @ 11:00AM – The Spiers & Boden Festival (Full Day), Cecil Sharp House, London
Sunday, October 10 – Chipping Norton Theatre, Chipping Norton
Monday, October 11 – Nettlebed Village Club, Nr Henley on Thames
Tuesday, October 12 – The Corn Hall, Diss
Saturday, October 16 – Hartlepool Folk Festival, Hartlepool*
Monday, October 18 – Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester
Tuesday, October 19 – Cambridge Junction, Cambridge
Wednesday, October 20 – Pocklington Arts Centre, Pocklington
Thursday, October 21 – Manchester Folk Festival, Manchester
Friday, October 22 – The Live Room, Saltaire
Sunday, October 24 – Music Room, Liverpool Philharmonic (Matinee & Evening Show)
Monday, October 25 – Rheolwr Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda, Bangor
Tuesday, October 26 – Canolfan Y Celfyddydau, Aberystwyth
Pre-Order Fallow Ground via Hudson Records: https://hudsonrecords.co.uk/product/spiers-boden-fallow-ground
Ticket links and more information via https://spiersandboden.com/
Photo Credit: Elly Lucas