Topic Records have shared the news that on September 5th, a plaque was unveiled at 160 Park Avenue in Hull to mark the former home of the renowned folk singer (and Topic Records artist), Lal Waterson.
One of the famed Waterson family, Lal spent the latter part of her life working from her home in Robin Hood’s Bay, although she originally hailed from Hull. Along with brother Mike Waterson, sister, Norma Waterson and cousin John Harrison, she was at the forefront of the Sixties folk revival.
It was here at 160 Park Avenue that Lal Waterson wrote 1972’s seminal, ‘Bright Phoebus.’
Lal Waterson died of cancer in September 1998, aged just 55. Her uncompromising songs have been described as high poetry, raising deep and soulful mysteries. Mojo magazine described Lal as being, “up with Nick Drake and Richard Thompson in the very front rank of English songwriters.”
The plaque was paid for by the Avenues and Pearson Park Residents Association at the suggestion of resident Geoff Lawes. Present on the day were Lal’s two children, Marry and Oliver, sister Norma, niece Eliza Carthy and Martin Carthy. Marry Waterson said: “This is a lovely honour for our mum. We all have such great memories of living in Hull, nestled in the grace of the tree-lined Avenues.”
Coincidentally, I’ve spent the last week digitising many of the Folk Radio UK CD archives for airplay in the future. When this news arrived I was just starting on “L”, among those CDs, was Lal & Norma Waterson’s ‘A True Hearted Girl” released in 1977 and reissued by Topic in 1999 along with the addition of two extra tracks; one from Waterson’s album A Yorkshire Garland (1966) and a 1988 recording of the Waterdaughters – Lal, Norma, Maria (Marry Waterson) & Liza Carthy (Eliza) performing John Ball.
One of the most touching and beautiful tributes to Lal was Marry Waterson’s “Teach me to be a summer morning”, released on Fledg’ling, described as an album that ‘confirmed her stature as a songwriter of rare imagination, depth and tich beauty’. We reviewed the album here and interviewed Marry Waterson about the project here who also made this beautiful video for Piper’s Path:
In celebration of National Album Day which this year spotlights women artists and their huge contribution to music and culture through the art of the album, Topic Records are offering a 25% reduction on their online store, on all female artist and female-artist led Topic Records titles from 16th – 31st October. The offer includes essential albums from the likes of Eliza Carthy, Anne Briggs, June Tabor, Norma Waterson, Fay Hield, Shirley Collins and many more. You can find the full list here.
Keeping things on the Waterson:Carthy front; Eliza and Martin Carthy have live dates coming up including London’s Roots Festival at King Place:
Eliza & Martin Carthy Tour Dates
23 OCT – The Marine Theatre, LYME REGIS
24 OCT – Henry Tudor House, SHREWSBURY
28 OCT – The Globe Inn, GLOSSOP
30 OCT – Hertford St Andrew Church, HERTFORD
31 OCT – Hailsham Pavilion, HAILSHAM
03 NOV – Wiltshire Music Centre, BRADFORD ON AVON
04 NOC – Ramsgate Music Hall, RAMSGATE
05 NOV – Kings Place, LONDON
06 NOV – Otley Courthouse, OTLEY
07 NOV – National Forest Folk Club, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH
09 NOV – Colchester Arts Centre, COLCHESTER
21 DEC – Union Chapel, LONDON (with Jon Boden)
Also, in case you missed it: Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight’s album The Days That Shaped Me was reissued in June as a special 10th Anniversary edition which we reviewed here. You order it on digital or vinyl here.
Main Photo by Marry Waterson