We recently shared the news that Fiddler and singer-songwriter Hannah Read had teamed up with Edinburgh-based banjo player Michael Starkey to record and release their new album Cross The Rolling Water, out on Hudson Records in June (CD/Digital) & August (LP) 2022.
Having had the pleasure of premiering their lead track Apple Blossom, they have just released another single from the album, which has been beautifully captured by award-winning photographer and filmmaker Paul Jennings.
Watch them perform a beautiful rendition of Anais Mitchell’s Shenandoah, which is taken from her album ‘The Brightness’ (2007), her label debut for Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records. The agile, stripped-back combination of banjo and guitar amplifies the emotion carried in Hannah’s vocals which really brings this heartfelt song alive.
Shenandoah is written by the brilliant Anais Mitchell. When I first heard her play it many moons ago I was drawn in by the hymn-like repetitive melody, along with the vivid imagery it conjured up – I immediately added it to my list of special songs to learn. I love this song and loved recording it in this stripped back setting with guitar and banjo.
Hannah Read
Cross The Rolling Water was recorded in December 2020 between the lock-downs with Hudson Record’s own Andy Bell; Hannah and Andy first met whilst working together on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Album of the year by Songs of Separation.
Cross The Rolling Water is available on CD, and Digital on 3rd June 2022, with the LP, released on 12th August; this will be the first Hudson Records LP pressed here in the UK at a new plant in Middlesbrough.
PRE-ORDER – https://smarturl.it/crosstherollingwater