The latest news from Simpson∙Cutting∙Kerr

Murmurs will be released 8th June "Outrageously great album from Simpson∙Cutting∙Kerr. 'Dark Swift & Bright Swallow' is amazing. It's stunning and beautiful. And timely. All things great folk should be." Rob Cowen, author 'Common Ground'.     The debut album from the wonderful new trio SIMPSON∙CUTTING∙KERR will be released on Monday June 8th on Topic Records. Murmurs was recorded in January this year and captures all the excitement of three master musicians having musical fun together. The album will appear on DL, CD and a limited edition Deluxe CD/DVD set. It’s a collection of songs that communicate to the listener a sense of bonded musicianship, a real feeling and empathy for each others’ playing and a collective love and innate understanding of the music. Recorded with award-winning producer Andy Bell, the combination of traditional songs, such as ‘Fair Rosamund’ and a stunning ‘Plains of Waterloo’, and original compositions, including ‘Dark Swift’ and ‘Not Even The Ground’ makes for a compelling listening experience; stories are told with instruments played by these masters of their respective crafts, but this is no showcase, more an expression of the joy of playing and singing between three absolutely intuitive musicians. “It is so incredibly exciting. Andy and Nancy have been brilliant. The whole project is sheer joy!” An advance single from the sessions – Dark Honey / Ruben – is released as a vinyl 7″ single on Monday 11th May. ‘Dark Honey’ is Nancy Kerr’s reflection on the human influence on our fast-changing ecology, informed by a summer of bee swarms in her inner-city garden, and the story she heard of bees collecting the sweetness from discarded cola cans and subsequently producing the dark honey of the title. ‘Ruben’ is an exclusive non-album track, available only on this single. A spirited and spiritual banjo-led reworking of the American folk standard ‘Reuben’s Train’, it is the lament of a traveller riding the railroad, penniless, longing for a home far out of reach. "We’re not even halfway through the year but we’ve already seen a number of astonishingly high quality records from many quarters; even so, Murmurs stands head and shoulders above much of this extraordinarily stiff competition. By anybody’s standards it’s a top-notch album by three of our best musicians and, if there’s any justice in this world, will soon find its way into the collections of all self-respecting fans of folk music." Folk Radio UK Simpson∙Cutting∙Kerr Murmurs Tour – June 2015 Wednesday 3rd: University Arts, LOUGHBOROUGH Thursday 4th: The Apex, BURY ST EDMUNDS Friday 5th: The Live Room, SALTAIRE Saturday 6th: Gate To Southwell Festival, SOUTHWELL Sunday 7th: St Gregory’s Music Centre, CANTERBURY Monday 8th: Croydon Folk Club, CROYDON Tuesday 9th: The Lantern, Colston Hall, BRISTOL Wednesday 10th: Barnfield Theatre, EXETER Thursday 11th: Robert Ludlam Theatre, DERBY Friday 12th: The Met, BURY Saturday 13th: The Sage, GATESHEAD Sunday 14th: Theatre By The Lake, KESWICK Wednesday 17th: The King’s Place, LONDON Friday 19th: Vivacity Key Theatre, PETERBOROUGH Saturday 20th: Beverley Folk Festival, BEVERLEY Monday 22nd: The Village Hall, NETTLEBED, Nr HENLEY ON THAMES Tuesday 23rd: The Stables Theatre, Wavendon, MILTON KEYNES Wednesday 24th: Wiltshire Music Centre, BRADFORD ON AVON Thursday 25th: Ashcroft Arts Centre, FAREHAM Friday 26th: Forest Arts Centre, NEW MILTON Next week Folk Radio UK and Topic Records will launch a competition to win one of ten signed copies of the deluxe CD/DVD set. Make sure you follow us on FaceBook for all the latest news.