merry hell

Merry Hell are a seriously entertaining group, with songs that can strike a chord, uplift and engender feelings of well-being. Let The Music Speak For Itself is a retrospective collection that does so much more than merely ‘speak’; it positively roars.

This May, Merry Hell will mark their 12 years with a double CD retrospective collection, ‘Let The Music Speak For Itself’; we chat with Wigan’s finest, who tell us, “We make a song and dance about serious subjects, but we’re seriously entertaining.“

A far cry from the often politically charged tub-thumping anthems of his day job with Merry Hell, Neil McCartney’s “Memoirs From A Crooked Road” gently grows on you the more you hear it, laying down a carbon footprint that’s well worth walking in.

A terrific listen for a lockdown winter night, dreaming of a return to outside summer music, hopefully, next year. Make sure Merry Hell are playing where you go; I will be.

While it contrasts Merry Hell’s more rousing, crowd singalong material, it is no less fuelled by the same heart and humanity and equally warrants a place in your collection.

Emergency Lullaby is the latest single from Merry Hell and the third and final release in their #HourglassTrilogy series which brings focus on the climate change crisis.

Fresh from an appearance at The Great British Folk Festival with many miles still to travel, Merry Hell deliver an unforgettable joyous, engaging and wonderful evening to the crowd at South Petherton.

‘Anthems to the Wind’ is a strong and irresistible album that finds Merry Hell on top form – at that brilliant moment in a band’s evolution where everyone’s on the same wavelength and the ideas are just tumbling out.

This week’s Folk Show features rituals, Cuckoos, poachers, Lapwings, Gypsies and a Golden Plover to name just a few of the themes that crop up in the folk songs we’ve pulled together. We’ve also got a sneak peek at some advance releases from Martin Simpson, Tom Russell, The Young’uns and Mairearad Green and Mike Vass plus more.

Merry Hell’s ‘Come On, England!’ EP offers a rallying cry against the rising tide of nationalism and fascism and a call for tolerance and equality. Plus, watch their video for the title track.

Over the course of three studio albums, Merry Hell has grown into a mighty eight-piece outfit that can take on any and all-comers at their own game and emerge victorious on all counts. Bloodlines is no exception which makes them prime contenders for the accolade of the nation’s premier folk-rock band at the moment. Read our review and watch their new title-track video.

Merry Hell have released a DVD of their sellout performance at The Grand, Clithereo which captures the passion, energy and the sheer joy they have become known for. Watch their latest video The Bakers Daughter/Soldiers Joy which is taken from the DVD.