A delightful, antique curio and a brief apology…

Our friends at fRoots magazine have excelled themselves and this series of clips brought smiles to our faces (for all of the right reasons naturally, although the uniform tanktops will undoubtedly be making a return to the fashion glossies as this year’s ‘must have’  sometime next year.) Unearthed and transcribed from video tape is a programme, made for the EFDSS by the nascent fRoots team, broadcast on BBC2 in 1982 as part of their open door community slot. This first clip of 5 gets us off to a flying start, with Ian Anderson’s self-effacing introduction given way to the underlying, guitar picking master-class from Martin Simpson. The half hour show, sets out to puncture the clichéd image of folk music and the ‘doings’ of folk clubs that the title suggests.  Any folk club regulars (and there are lots of you out there), will recognise the evening’s scene, which is little changed down the years – although it’s one hell of a bill that’s assembled. As well as Martin, who returns with a stunning version of Masters Of War that, sadly, still echoes its delivery here and indeed its creation to this day, you also get Maggie Holland and Peta Webb. It’s the latter’s Webb’s wonders that first got our attention for the appearance of our close colleague Tony Engle on concertina (and very well he plays it too) and vocals. Episode five also features an interview with esteemed journalist and regular Propergandist Colin Irwin, in his more youthful Melody Maker days. He’s impassioned and angry, not just about the stereotyping, but also about a collective failure to recognise the value of folk music. All the things that punk rock and the growing indie scenes were lauded for in the contemporary popular music press back in the day, the folk scene had been doing for years. And almost 30 years on… Well the folk club scene still thrives, the audience is still there and personally, I’ve seen some of the best gigs I’ve ever seen within their walls.  If that first clip has whetted your appetite you can find the rest of them here. With many thanks to Ian A. Anderson and the fRoots team for the find.

Finally a minor apology as gremlims stopped tthe link to the rest of yesterdays new releases working, but it is now fixed.

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New releases 08/03/10

New CDs today from Joan Armatrading, Kris Drever, Sophie Millman and more…

Joan Armatrading - This Charming Life

Joan Armatrading – This Charming Life

Joan Armatrading’s achievements are quietly astonishing and as she approaches 60, show no sign of letting up. Today sees the release of This Charming Life, which she confidently rates her finest work to date. This collection of eleven new compositions see Joan return to a more rock/pop format, both commercial yet also contemporary. From the anthemic opener and title track that has hit single written all over it, to the hard rocking Heading Back To New York City and the “hands in the air” Best Dress On, Joan is back with an album that will appeal to fans old and new. A consummate performer, Joan Armatrading is indeed the whole package, an excellent song writer, a powerful vocalist and as a guitarist, she is certainly one of the best female players in the world and is undertaking a massive world tour to support the new release. Here’s the video for the title track that hints at the fact that Joan played all of the instruments on this new CD herself, except the drums, as well as writing, recording and producing.

 

Radio Ballads – Your weekend assignment…

The Ballad Of The Miners' Strike

The Ballad Of The Miners’ Strike

Broadcast on Tuesday night this proved to be everything expected and more and if you didn’t hear it you really must – no shirking. The i-player and its like are what weekends are for afterall and the great thing about this is that it’s radio, so you can listen and surf the net unhindered at the same time. So whether it’s pink-label Island treasures or shoes that you’re searching for on ebay (I’ll doubtless be looking for both), you really should have this playing in the background as you do.

 

Lau & Others on tour…

Lau on tour

There’s a bit of a flurry of activity from BBC Radio2 Folk Awards winners at present and with the compilation CD selling strongly, we thought it worth offering a little summary. Lau of course ran away with the best band tag for the third year running. Anyone who has seen them will know why and for the rest of you I suggest you check here to find out where you can correct an obvious omission from your musical education.

John Kirkpatrick - Dance Of The Demon Daffodils

While we’re at it Musician Of The Year John Kirkpatrick featured on Mike Harding’s show last night, which by means of the i-player is available to listen to for the next week. John’s award was one of the most richly applauded on the night as John has a prolific and extensive career, that could almost run stick-of-rock-like through the middle of English folk music.

Follow the link through as it’s always worth listening to Mike and John is on fine form dialling in from Shrewsbury.

 

Beth Nielsen Chapman live in Newcastle review

Beth Nielsen Chapman - Back To Love

Beth Nielsen Chapman, The Journal New Tyne Theatre, Newcastle Sunday 28^/2/10

As Beth’s tour of the UK nears its conclusion our Northern correspondent gets to the show and offers us the following review.

With as many ice creams and bottles of water sold as pints at the venue, this was never going to be a rowdy affair. And a reverential atmosphere in this church-like building (where the seats are as hard as old pews) made the scheduling of this gig on a Sunday evening more than appropriate.  

 

A brand new Radio Ballad, The Ballad Of The Miners’ Strike is broadcast tonight and 2006 Ballads are made available digitally

In specially commissioned songs to mark the 25th anniversary of the end of miners’ strike, Radio 2 explores how lives were changed by the year-long dispute (1984-85). The ballad is a musical and historical tapestry which includes sequences of reflection and testimony, punctuated and driven by archive clips of news bulletins, reportage and interviews from the strike period with key figures miners’ leader Arthur Scargill and Coal Board leader Ian McGregor. Musical accompaniment is provided by acclaimed folk musicians John McCusker, Andy Cutting, Bob Fox, Barry Coupe, Jez Lowe, Andy Seward, Julie Matthews and John Tams. The show will be broadcast tonight at 22.30 and will of course be available on the i-player from tomorrow.

To coincide with the new broadcast the 6 ballads from 2006 are being made available digitally for download.

 

New releases 01/03/2010

Chris Wood - Handmade Life

Chris Wood – Handmade Life

Chris Wood started out as a choirboy and much of his music bears the influence of those years spent with the likes of Bach, Handel, Gibbons and Boyce: he describes the album Handmade Life as “church music with drums.”

Self-taught on guitar and violin, he is a lifelong autodidact — and his independent streak shines through in his composition and studio work. Always direct and unafraid to speak his mind, his song writing has been praised for its surgical clarity. His work is typified by his trust in the space music can create and a gift for lyrical understatement. He cites his major influence as “Anon”. 

 

Shane MacGowan – I’ve Put A Spell On You *Update*

Shane McGowan & Friends - I've Put A Spell On You

Shane McGowan & Friends – I’ve Put A Spell On You

The story continues to grow around the I Put A Spell On You charity single released on the 7/03/10, but available to pre-order now. The music press and some of the daily and weekend papers have been talking to Shane over the last couple of days and the will start running immediately. We also now have the full video for the song for you to watch below. As explained in my previous post. The proceeds go to the Dublin based Concern Worldwide charity. Click on the name for more information about their work and what is happening in Haiti. The scale of the disaster cannot be overstated, so spread the word as every contribution counts and pre-order the single now. The video is great fun as well. Watch out for the axe-hero at the end…

Screaming Jay Hawkins says "Look into my eyes... You will buy the single."

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Shane MacGowan, Johnny Depp, Nick Cave, Chrissie Hynde, Glen Matlock, Bobby Gillespie & Mick Jones record Haiti charity single.

Shane MacGowan & Friends - I Put A Spell On You

Shane MacGowan & Friends – I Put A Spell On You

Officially released on 7/03/10 but available now to pre-order from 7 Digital (just click on the sleeve) this charity single I Put A Spell On You was introduced  to the world by Shane MacGowan at the Shockwaves NME Awards on February 24. A moment of inspiration saw MacGowan’s long term partner Victoria Clark connect the Screaming Jay Hawkins’ classic with Haiti’s deep and complex spiritual culture. The came together in a matter of days as phone calls pinged around the globe and the results took shape in a studio in South London. Channel 4 News brought the news to the wider world, watch the piece and interviews below.

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Dennis Locorriere & Andy Fairweather Low Double Header

Dennis Locorriere - Post Cool

Dennis Locorriere – Post Cool

Famous as the voice of Dr. Hook and the recipient of countless platinum and gold albums, Dennis Locorriere sang all of the band’s major hits and was the only member to feature on all of their recordings. He has a new album due on 15/03/10 through Proper Records and is currently out on the road to promote it. These days he’s resident in the UK and has been a regular on the live circuit, consistently playing to packed houses. His solo career now takes prominence in the set list with that voice, instantly recognisable, as note perfect as it ever was. Dennis has a sizeable fanbase of regulars, but the curious may want to check here for the rest of the tour schedule which runs from now, through March and into April. You should also check out this very funny video, it’s worth five minutes of anyone’s time…