SALT HOUSE - Lauren MacColl, Jenny Sturgeon & Ewan MacPherson - TOURING 2022 / 2023

 Songs are central to Salt House. New songs that sound as if they’ve always been here.

Ancient ballads woken up. Poems given the tunes they’ve long deserved. Songs about place, politics, landscape and birds. A collaboration of writing and song from 3 of Scotland's foremost performers; Jenny Sturgeon, Ewan MacPherson and Lauren MacColl.

​Their latest album 'Huam' sees them solidify their reputation as fine interpreters of words both old and new. It's their third collection of songs, and the second pairing with folk heavyweight producer Andy Bell. It was released amidst the impressive roster of Hudson Records in 2020. Their most recent EP 'Working For Zeus' was released in 2021, featuring 5 amazing guest musicians Maija Kauhanen, Dean Honer, Cahalen Morrison, Petter Frost Fadnes and Olav Luksengård Mjelva.

​The trio continue their love of recording ‘on location’ with this album, taking themselves to rural Argyllshire to finish writing and recording the songs which were crafted between their homes of Inverness-shire and Shetland.

'Undersong' (2018) was recorded in the stunningly restored Telford Church on the island of

Berneray (as seen on Channel 4’s Restoration Man.) You can hear its tranquility in the sympathetic and dynamic recording. A sense of place captured both in songs and sound; Ewan claims if you listen closely you can even hear the flies in the overhead lights.

You’ll also hear echoes of Pentangle, a touch of Dick Gaughan, murmurs of Scandinavian and Scots, all woven into a music that’s traditional and new. The group’s meticulous attention to detail, shared passions and care for their craft sees Salt House soar.

More about the band:

Singer, guitarist and harmonium player Jenny has a PHD in seabirds. Described by R2 Magazine as “a singer-songwriter who brings together the old and new with a rare skill.” Her songs are earthy and wise; she sings them with beauty and power.

Ewan brings to Salt House a wealth of understanding and experience gained with the highly respected Fribo and Shooglenifty. His songs are poetic and layered; his voice plaintive and from the heart.

Lauren’s arrangements hold a rich, deep, darkness flecked with gold. You can hear the Highlands in Lauren’s elegant bowing, honed while performing with the quartet RANT, The Rachel Newton Band and as a prolific and award-winning soloist. She plays with warmth, wisdom and soul.

“Wonderful… a trio of exceptional talent.” – Folk Radio UK

LINE UP: ​

Ewan MacPherson - vocals, guitars

Jenny Sturgeon - vocals, harmonium, guitar

Lauren MacColl - fiddle, viola, vocals

​Touring Dates available on FRIDAY 30 SEPT / SAT 1 OCTOBER / MON 3 OCTOBER / TUES 4 OCTOBER / THURS 6 OCT (North) 2022, March/April 2023 + festival appearances.

‘Elegant’ - Mojo

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Scotsman

‘Effortless’ Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music

‘Awfy Bonnie’ Roddy Hart, BBC Radio Scotland

‘An album of temporal beauty that touches the eternal’ Folking.com

‘Light and quick, profound and full of care, it is an album of serenely balanced opposites.’ Folk Radio

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ fRoots

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Songlines

⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Characterful new songs and settings, deftly woven" The Scotsman

"Outstanding" Irish Music Magazine

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH FOR FESTIVAL DATES & TOURING DATES IN SEPT / OCT 2022 & MARCH / APRIL 2023 contact gail@laughingdogmusic.co.uk tel: + 44 (0) 7905 952 374 Click here to go to LAUGHING DOG MUSIC

Click here to go to SALT HOUSE

Catch Topic Records Artists on Tour - Martin Simpson - Eliza and Martin Carthy.

Catch Topic Records Artists on Tour

You can catch the following Topic artists on tour over the next few months...

Martin Simpson

23 OCT - MILNGAVIE, GUITAR WORKSHOP (DAYTIME) Baljaffray Church, Grampian Way, Bearsden
24 OCT - MILNGAVIE, Baljaffray Church, Grampian Way Bearsden
25 OCT  - TRAVERSE THEATRE, Cambridge Street, EDINBURGH, Mid Lothian, EH1 2ED
27 OCT - EASTGATE THEATRE, Eastgate Peebles, EH45 8AD
07 NOV - GREEN DUCK BREWERY, Gainsborough Trading Estate
11 NOV - CHAPEL ARTS, St James Memorial Hall, Lower Borough Walls, BATH, BA1 1QR
12 NOV - HUNTINGDON HALL, Crown Gate Worcester, WR1 3LD
14 NOV - TOPSHAM FOLK CLUB, Matthews Hall, Fore Street, TOPSHAM, Devon, EX3 0HF
26 NOV - THE GOOSE IS OUT - The Ivy House, London, SE15 3BE
27 NOV - THE HUNTER CLUB, 6 Saint Andrew's Street South, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2PH

Eliza & Martin Carthy

23 OCT - The Marine Theatre, LYME REGIS
24 OCT - Henry Tudor House, SHREWSBURY
27 OCT - Ushaw College, DURHAM
28 OCT - The Globe Inn, GLOSSOP
30 OCT - Hertford St Andrew Church, HERTFORD
31 OCT - Hailsham Pavilion, HAILSHAM
03 OCT - Wiltshire Music Centre, BRADFORD ON AVON
04 OCT - Ramsgate Music Hall, RAMSGATE
05 OCT - Kings Place, LONDON
06 OCT - Otley Courthouse, OTLEY
07 OCT - National Forest Folk Club, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH
09 OCT - Colchester Arts Centre, COLCHESTER
21 DEC - Union Chapel, LONDON (with Jon Boden)

Topic Records – Traditional and contemporary folk from the British Isles

News From Topic Records November 2019

News From Topic Records November 2019 Anne Briggs Ltd Edition Gold Vinyl (back in stock on December 6th 2019) This eponymous 1971 debut album by Anne Briggs, largely unavailable for 48 years, is widely regarded as a pillar of any folk collection. Re-issued here as part of the Topic Treasures series - the label’s classic and notable albums expanded in deluxe format with rare images, new liner notes (by esteemed journalist, Ken Hunt) - ‘Anne Briggs’ heralds a huge resurgence of interest in this most reclusive of folk doyennes. This debut album contains some of Briggs’ most notable songs, including ‘Blackwater Slide,’ which she famously taught to Bert Jansch, (who recorded it on his ‘Jack Orion’ album) and ‘Go Your Way,’ co-written with Jansch. As with the 1971 original, the sleeve here contains song notes by the highly-regarded English folk singer and collector of folk songs, A.L. Lloyd. Limited edition 180gm gold vinyl back in stock on December 6th 2019. Pre-order Vision & Revision The First 80 Years of Topic Records We were thrilled to see Vision & Revision: The First 80 Years of Topic Records at number 3 in the Folk rundown of MOJO's Essential Guide to 2019. The deluxe double album features the cream of British folk artists interpreting a song of their choice from our vast back catalogue and includes never-before-released tracks by Martin Simpson, Richard Thompson, Lankum, Peggy Seeger, John Smith, Sam Lee, Martin Carthy, Olivia Chaney, Lisa O’Neill, Oysterband, Nancy Kerr, Chris Wood, Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker, Lisa Knapp, Kitty Macfarlane, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, Emily Portman & Rob Harbron, Rachael McShane & The Cartographers, Eliza Carthy & Olivia Chaney and The Oldham Tinkers. Buy, Download or Stream Topic Records Folk In Focus It's your last chance to visit the Folk In Focus exhibition of iconic photographs which runs until the 5th January at Cecil Sharp House. Focusing on the seminal artists who’ve helped shape contemporary folk music as we know it, the exhibition includes era-defining shots of Anne Briggs, Shirley & Dolly Collins, The Watersons, Nic Jones, June Tabor, Martin Simpson, Eliza and Martin Carthy, Peggy Seeger, Ewan MacColl and many more. Featuring photographs by Brian Shuel, John Harrison, Elly Lucas, Judith Burrows, Dave Peabody, Eammon O’Doherty and George Van Win, the exhibition runs until 5th January 2020 at Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, London, NW1 7AY. Free entry. On Tour Martin Simpson continues his Rooted tour throughout November and into December. Rachael McShane & the Cartographers have announced new dates in March and April next year and Eliza Carthy heads out with the Restitute Band in April. Martin Simpson 20 November - Penrith, Upfront Arts Venue 21 November - Gateshead, Sage Gateshead 22 November - Morecambe, The Platform 23 November - Cheshire, The Lion Salt Works Museum 24 November - Stockton On Tees, The Waiting Room 27 November - Andover, The Lights 29 November - Corsham, The Pound Arts Centre 30 November - London, Cecil Sharp House 01 December - Wingfield, Wingfield Barns 05 December - New Milton, Forest Arts Centre 06 December - Fareham, Ashcroft Arts Centre 07 December - Brighton, St Lukes Church 08 December - Maidstone, The Bower House 19 December - Sheffield, Firth Hall Sheffield Rachael McShane & The Cartographers 20 March 2020 - Runcorn, The Brindley 21 March 2020 - Otley, Otley Courthouse 25 March 2020 - Morecambe, The Platform 26 March 2020 - Bury, The Met 27 March 2020 - London, Kings Place 28 March 2020 - South Petherton, The David Hall 29 March 2020 - Bath, Chapel Arts 24 April 2020 - Gateshead, Sage Gateshead 25 April 2020 - Barton Upon Humber, Ropery Hall 26 April 2020 - Suffolk, Folk At The Froize Eliza Carthy & TRachael McShane & The Cartographers 01 April 2020 - Halifax, Square Chapel Centre 02 April 2020 - Manchester, The Stoller Hall 03 April 2020 - Pontardawe, Pontardawe Arts Centre 05 April 2020 - Basingstoke, The Haymarket 08 April 2020 - Bristol, St George’s 09 April 2020 - Oxford, The North Wall 10 April 2020 - York, The Crescent 11 April 2020 - Settle, Settle Victoria Hall 06 June 2020 - Portsoy, Portsoy Town Hall Copyright © 2019 Topic Records, All rights reserved. Topic Records Topic Records c/o Proper Music Distribution 1-5 Applegarth Drive, Questor, Dartford Kent, Eng DA1 1JD United Kingdom

Emily Portman - Seed Stitch; New Single, Video & Tour

EMILY PORTMAN - SEED STITCH; NEW SINGLE, VIDEO & TOUR

2 track digital single from Furrow Records. Cat. No.: FURR010. Release date: 13th Nov.
2015. Barcode: 5051565305388 Publisher: Wipe Out Music, Distribution: Cadiz.
"Entrancing and unsettling. A marvellous, original work"
✭✭✭✭ Observer
"Coracle is, without doubt, one of the folk albums of the year."
✭✭✭✭✭ Songlines
"Dark, dark is the considerable beauty of Emily Portman's
work”
✭✭✭✭✭ fROOTS.
"Spooky and surreal”
✭✭✭✭ Guardian
"A bold album"
✭✭✭✭ Telegraph 'Best Folk Albums of 2015’
"Coracle is a triumph...Delicate as a spider’s web, yet tough
as memory, this is a rich and remarkable record.”
✭✭✭✭✭ R2 Magazine

Seed Stitch is the new single from BBC Folk Award-winner Emily Portman, released
alongside a new video by a fellow Liverpool-based animator Laura Sparks, and coinciding
with a live tour from 6th-15th November.

Emily Portman’s latest album Coracle has received a multitude of rave reviews
since its release in June. It was recently named a 'Best Album of 2015' by the Telegraph
and put Emily on the cover of fROOTS magazine. Coracle has received plentiful airplay,
with accolades from the likes of BBC R3’s Late Junction and Jarvis Cocker on 6 Music.
Emily Portman will be joined by special guests to play a BBC live session for Mark Radcliffe’s
Folk Show on 4th November, which will coincide with the Seed Stitch video premier
by Folk Radio UK.
Seed Stitch showcases two stand-out songs from Coracle that subtly spin together
folk motifs with personal reflections on motherhood and bereavement. Emily describes the
title track as ‘a knitting pattern for DNA’; her beguiling voice rings out over a soundscape of
metronomic fiddles, with pulsing wurlitzer, electric guitar, glitch-laden electronics and percussion.
Haunting, yet silver-lined Seed Stitch shows Emily’s finely crafted songwriting at
its most poignant. The single also features ‘Nightjar’, a beautifully atmospheric song featuring
harp, brooding strings and drums, that lyrically captures the last moments of a loved
one’s life. Joining the acclaimed Emily Portman Trio on Seed Stitch are guests Sam
Sweeney on strings (Bellowhead), M G Boulter on guitars (Lucky Strikes) and Classical
percussionist Toby Kearney (BBC Young Musician of the Year 2006). Emily will be touring
live with this expanded line up as Emily Portman and the Coracle Band in 2016.
November Tour Dates

• 6th Foundling Museum LONDON
• 7th Sugar & Spice BOURNEMOUTH
• 8th Kitchen Garden Cafe BIRMINGHAM
• 9th The Greystones SHEFFIELD
• 10th Forest Arts Centre NEW MILTON
• 11th Howard Assembly Rooms LEEDS
• 12th Lincoln Drill Hall LINCOLN
• 13th Ashcroft Arts Centre FAREHAM
• 14th Arlington Arts Centre ARLINGTON
• 15th Philharmonic Hall LIVERPOOL
www.emilyportman.co.uk PR: james@jameshsoars.com Agent:sarahcoxson@btinternet.com (ABM)

Emily Portman - Biography
‘Casts a powerful spell’ Uncut
‘A mouth-watering collaboration’ Mojo
[on The Furrow Collective]
‘Eerily magnificent, bizarre and wonderful’ fRoots

Emily Portman is a folk singer, banjo-player and songwriter hailed as ‘one of the new
British folk scene’s most beguiling presences’ (Uncut). Emily is winner the BBC Radio Two
Folk Award for Best Original Song and now she’s back with Coracle, a vivid tour de force
of finely-crafted songs that spin together folk motifs with personal reflections on motherhood
and bereavement. Coracle has already caught the attention of Jarvis Cocker, received
rave reviews and propelled Emily onto the cover of fROOTS. The Emily Portman
Trio are joined by a stellar cast of guests to create a darkly magical album that takes Emily’s
fine-spun lyricism to new heights. Emily performs live with the Emily Portman Trio,
alongside the talented musicians Lucy Farrell (voice,viola and saw) and Rachel Newton
(voice, harp and fiddle) who have become known for their “inventive arrangements using
twinkling harp, brooding strings and chiming vocal parts” (Observer).

www.emilyportman.co.uk

The Emily Portman Trio are at Lincoln Drill Hall on 12th November

Tickets for Lincoln Drill Hall from 01522 873894 www.lincolndrillhall.com

Summer's Here - Latest News From Topic Records

Summer's here ~ Festival Season After a run of fabulous gigs earlier in the summer, and wonderful reviews for their Murmurs album, Simpson∙ŸCutting∙ŸKerr appear together again at two festivals over the summer, Cambridge Folk Festival on Sunday 2nd August and Towersey Festival on Sunday 30th August. The trio resume the Murmurs Tour on Friday September 18th at The Grand in Clitheroe, the first of eight more concerts. Check www.martinsimpson.com for more details.   You can also catch the wonderful Eliza Carthy & the Wayward Band at the following venues over the next couple of months: Friday 31st July : Camp Bestival, LULWORTH, Dorset Saturday 8th August : WICKHAM Festival, Hampshire Saturday 5th September : Robin Hood Folk Festival, RAVENSHEAD, Notts Sunday 6th September : COTTINGHAM Folk Festival Perfect for the festival season (and record collectors), we now have for sale a black tote bag with the classic Topic accordion player logo on one side and a 1967 Topic flyer design on the other. Continuing our monthly choice of music at a very special price, August’s selections are volumes 17 to 20 of the original Voice of the People set and 4 more great Fledg’ling titles:   another 4 volumes of the Voice of the People:     TSCD667  IT FELL UPON A DAY, A BONNY SUMMER DAY TSCD668  TO CATCH A FINE BUCK WAS MY DELIGHT TSCD669  RANTING & REELING TSCD670  THERE IS A MAN UPON THE FARM   and an August bundle of 4 more great Fledg’ling titles:       FLED 3017  RICHARD THOMPSON & Chums ~ Hard Cash FLED 3026  JULIAN DAWSON ~ Under The Sun FLED 3080  SHIRLEY COLLINS ~ Sweet England FIVE 005  DAPHNE'S FLIGHT Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick head out on an extensive 23-date tour in September, starting at St David’s Hall in Cardiff on Tuesday September 1st and finishing on October 30th at the Stamford Arts Centre in South Lincolnshire. You can see the full list of dates by following this link: Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick tour dates

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.