blowzabella

Exhilarating right through to the very last downbeat, Tilham proves a brilliantly fiery and tremendously satisfying set that embodies par excellence, the “inimitable, driving, drone-based wall-of-sound“ that will forever be associated with the Blowzabella name.

Ahead of Sidmouth, we look at the history of Blowzabella who began life in 1978 as an energetic stilt walking dance band in bizarre costumes – they’ve played everywhere, including Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage and have influenced bands who experiment with the boundaries of folk music.

Part One of our Best Folk Albums of 2018 includes Brigid Mae Power, Anna & Elizabeth, Aidan O’Rourke, Eamon O’Leary, Buck Curran, Cath & Phil Tyler, Dom Flemons, Kitty Macfarlane, Mike Vass, Toby Hay, Duncan Chisholm and more.

The strongly individual blend of instrumental colours continues, all surfacing through the texture in various delightful and surprising permutations over the course of this 40th Anniversary (Two-Score) album from Blowzabella.

As the year comes to a close and the inevitable ‘best of’ lists appear, it’s gratifying to find another album that demands attention. But The Drowned Lover and Other Dark Tales doesn’t permit you to wallow in the past; Paul is a performer who continues to push himself and all those willing to listen.

Jon Boden compiles The Ultimate Guide To English Folk, a lavish two-disc primer designed to appeal to experienced folkies and newbies alike. It is not the first such collection, but it is probably the most wide-ranging, lovingly compiled and inventively sequenced. One of the most important messages to take from this compilation is that while folk music in England is something of an extended family, it is by no means …

Our Tune of the Day is from Paul James who many of you will know as a member of Blowzabella. Wakeful is from his forthcoming new album The Drowned Lover & Other Dark Tales which is due for release in September 2016.

The wonderfully original Blowzabella will be hitting the road in May to play a series of dates across England as well as headline the main stage at FolkEast in Suffolk on Saturday 20 August – one you don’t want to miss!

FolkEast have announced their first acts for 2016 which looks to be another promising year with Eliza Carthy’s Wayward Band, Blowzabella Irish supergroup Usher’s Island leading the way.

To be premiered at Durham Cathedral on Saturday 10th May: Will Lang’s ‘Canny at Neet, Bonny at Morn‘ celebrates the culture and heritage of the North-East through its folk songs.

In our final part of the Best Albums of 2013 we include the full list of all 92 Albums we chose along with the final few including: The Gentle Good, Blowzabella, RM Hubbert, Kathryn Williams & more.

Newbury songwriter Des Simmons died in January 2013, a special charity concert will be held in his honour this month feat members of Wire, 1000 Mexicans and Blowzabella. Also listen to tracks from his final album.