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Showing posts with label folk music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label folk music. Show all posts

Monday 1 February 2021

The Official Folk Albums Chart Show — Tonight 1st February 2021 - 7pm GMT

The Official Folk Albums Chart Show — Tonight 1st February 2021 - 7pm GMT

Folk on Foot website, YouTube and podcast feed. Commissioned by English Folk Expo and compiled by the Official Charts Company.

See which albums have made the Official Folk Albums Chart this month, with Folk on Foot. Packed with stories, music and insights, this is always a joy to watch. You might also spot us making an appearance this week…

Free to access, but you can support the podcast by becoming a patron.

Find out more

Wednesday 27 January 2021

Check Out Folk Discovery – a Topic Spotify Playlist

Folk Discovery – a Topic Spotify playlist

Topic Records recently launched a new Spotify playlist called ‘Folk Discovery’ which features new and not so new folk songs they are currently enjoying. The playlist isn’t just limited to Topic artists and includes folk music from around the UK, Ireland and further afield. Topic will be keeping it regularly updated so make sure to follow on Spotify and check back in to explore the world of folk.

If you like what you hear, you can consider supporting the artists by buying an album or merch and by following, sharing and liking on social media and streaming platforms.

As well as Topic’s Folk Discovery playlist, you’ll also find lots more on their Spotify profile here

Wednesday 9 December 2020

Working River A Joint Project the General Federation of Trade Unions Educational Trust a\7 Folktree Recordings

Working River is an open-ended joint project between the General Federation of Trade Unions Educational Trust and Folktree Recordings designed to collect and popularise music and verse, recording the lives and deeds of those who live and work around the Thames, one of the most famous rivers in the world.


Further information and 21 track list at : https://gftu.org.uk/working-river/

 The CD (£12.99 inc P & P)  can be purchased here: https://gftu.org.uk/shop/


Sunday 6 December 2020

Imagining Ireland: Martin Hayes - National Concert Hall Dublin - Tuesday 8 December 8pm GMT

Imagining Ireland: Martin Hayes - National Concert Hall Dublin - Tuesday 8 December 8pm 

The evolving soundtrack of Ireland, Imagining Ireland showcases the most exciting creative
artists at work today .For this one-off worldwide exclusive stream, arguably our leading traditional musician Martin Hayes leads an evening of authentic Irish music and virtuoso interplay. Performing live from NCH, Hayes is joined by jazz pianist Cormac McCarthy and Brian Donnellan on bouzouki, harmonium  and concertina.'

The sound of a fiddle is is more that just the instrument itself, it is the instrument in relationship to the space in which it is being played; the room is also your instrument. I love playing the National Concert Hall. It inspires me and draws music out of me in a way that allows me to explore the subtle and powerful beauty of the melodies with real freedom. I will be accompanied by two wonderful musicians: Pianist, Cormac McCarthy and Concertina/Harmonium and Bouzuki player, Brian Donnellan. I look forward to exploring these melodies and sharing with you the background, history and stories of the tunes and the people behind them."  Martin Hayes

Rooted in the classical, folk and contemporary worlds, Martin Hayes  founded the seminal Irish-American supergroup The Gloaming, whose self-titled debut album won the Meteor Choice Music Prize for Best Irish Album. Their global touring has included more than a dozen shows at Dublin’s National Concert Hall as well as performances at London’s Royal Festival Hall and Barbican. Hayes has collaborated with everyone from Bill Frisell and Yo-Yo Ma to Sting and Paul Simon. Hayes' long-term creative partnership with Dennis Cahill also saw the duo perform for President Obama at the White House.

The concert will be available to tickets holders for 48 hours following the performance

Supported by Davy as Innovation Partner. Imagining Ireland is a partnership collaboration between NCH and Culture Ireland. Supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media 

TICKETS FOR THE STREAM ARE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY VIA DICE.FM

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOOKING YOUR LIVESTREAM TICKETS VIA DICE.FM ARE HERE

Sunday 15 November 2020

Martin & Eliza Carthy - On Line -8.00 pm Friday 18 December 2020

 8.00 pm Friday 18 December – Martin & Eliza Carthy

Tickets £8 – £22

Martin Carthy and his twice Mercury nominated daughter Eliza Carthy, join forces to perform for you.

Martin is a legendary ballad singer and guitarist who has influenced a generations of artists, including Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, while Eliza has been twice-nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and a multiple-award winner at the BBC Radio Two Folk awards.

Ticket Link

Friday 13 November 2020

An Introduction to Nic Jones - On Topic Records

 

An Introduction to Nic Jones

The 14th release in Topic’s acclaimed ‘An Introduction To…’ series celebrates the classic English folk singer, fingerstyle guitarist and fiddle player, Nic Jones. Compiled by Nic himself, the album includes sleeve notes by Colin Irwin (fRoots/The Guardian) and two previously unreleased 2013 studio tracks, ‘Now’ and ‘I Only Spoke Portuguese.’

Nic Jones has won awards galore, has made some fantastic albums and played with the likes of June Tabor, Martin Carthy, Richard and Linda Thompson, Peter Bellamy and Shirley Collins to name but a few. There is no doubt he would have made even more fantastic music had it not been for a tragic car crash that robbed this world of his magic touch. 1980 saw the release of his classic album Penguin Eggs on Topic Records but less than two years later, fate took a disastrous turn. After a gig and while traveling home his car collided head-on with a brick lorry. Virtually every bone in his body was broken. The shock waves reverberated around the entire folk world. The battle to rebuild his body and his life was long and tortuous. He would never play again,                                                                               that was for sure.

Except. Except, eventually – well, almost thirty years eventually – he did.
Coerced, encouraged, protected and inspired by his remarkable wife Julia, he was able to put the pieces back together again. First lured to play a few festivals and then in 2013 with the help of his son Joe Jones and Belinda O’Hooley, record a few new studio tracks, two of which appear on this release for the first time.

Nic insisted on compiling this introduction to his work, a mix of material from the Topics classic Penguin Eggs and Game Set Match albums, tracks included are ‘Humpback Whale’, ‘Seven Yellow Gypsies’, ‘Dives of Lazarus’ as well as the magical never released before 2013 studio recordings of ‘I Only Speak Portuguese’ and ‘Now.’
I think it’s best to have Nic have the last word.



“I think this selection of tracks represents very well my working repertoire during the years I was a professional performer. In music, I have always liked stories, encapsulated in a rhythmic way. I have enjoyed the visions, true or false, black or white, philosophical or emotional, played to the best on my old guitar… So here are a few of those songs that will take you all around the world and, hopefully, set your own visions alight” – Nic Jones January 2019

BUY, DOWNLOAD OR LISTEN HERE

 

Wednesday 11 November 2020

Jackie Oates & Megan Henwood On Line Show - Saturday 14 November 2020

 Jackie Oates & Megan Henwood On Line Show - Saturday 14 November 2020

Multi award winning contemporary folk duo Jackie Oates and Megan Henwood meld together their love of storytelling, songwriting and melody with their voices and acoustic instruments, resulting in a fresh sound that combines both reworked traditional folk song with original and contemporary material. Their individual musical backgrounds are quite different yet their voices blend effortlessly, sensitively backed by viola, guitar, and sometimes piano.

The pair met at Nettlebed Folk Club in Oxfordshire, already admiring one another’s work – they began playing music together shortly after and Jackie contributed heavily on Megan’s last album ‘Head Heart Hand’. Since then they have been working together on new material and experimenting with arranging traditional and contemporary songs to fit their musical vision. Working with producers Pete Brown and Tom Excell they have recorded a 5 track EP entitled ‘Wings’ which features their haunting adaption of Brain Bedford’s poignant song ‘What’s The Use Of Wings?’.

After their duo performance at Folk Weekend: Oxford was scuppered by Covid (although we had a lovely shared set of solo songs instead!) we are delighted that Jackie and Megan will be back performing together for us, live to your living rooms.

Event Details This event takes place in Zoom. You will be emailed a joining link when you have booked your ticket - if you don't receive the confirmation straight away please email cat@livetoyourlivingroom.com

Start date: 14 November, 2020 Start time: 20:00 GMT End time: 22:00 GMT

Ticket Link

Martin Simpson Celebrates Launch of New Topic Album With On Line Concert

 Martin Simpson celebrates the release of his new album, Home Recordings, this Friday with an online album launch. See below for details and links to buy tickets.



See this special online concert in conjunction with the
Milngavie FolkClub
. It’s happening this Friday 13 November 2020 and tickets are now on sale on this link: https://jmsconcerts.co.uk/269-martin-simpson-online-album...

Sunday 8 November 2020

Will Pound on line Wednesday 11 November - 8pm GMT

 Will Pound  on line Wednesday 11 November - 8pm GMT

Live to Your Living Room

Known for being one of the finest melodeon and harmonica players of his generation, Will Pound is a master of his craft who isn’t afraid to push boundaries. He’s toured everywhere from Europe to Australia, but for this concert he’s heading straight to your living room.

Tickets £14, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances. Gig is streamed via Zoom.

Find out more

Wednesday 4 November 2020

Thursday 5 November 2020 is Write a Song for Lincolnshire Finals Night

Thursday 5 November is Write a Song for Lincolnshire Finals Night


This time there will be no performance with an audience , but remember to tune into 

BBC Radio Lincolnshire 94.9  7pm - 10pm

to hear the Final listed songs and see if you can pick  the Winner. Also special sets from Show of Hands & Trackdogs.

Wednesday 12 June 2019

News From Topic Records June 2019

Celebrating the first 80 years of Topic Records


New album announcement

Martin Simpson - Rooted

out 30 August on 2CD, Vinyl and Digital
Singer, songwriter and guitar virtuoso Martin Simpson will release his brand new studio album Rooted on August 30. Produced by Andy Bell and recorded in Sheffield and Oxfordshire, Rooted will be available on CD, LP and digital with the deluxe 2CD and deluxe digital versions including a bonus disc of instrumentals, Seeded.
Summing up the themes of his new album, Martin says: “The music and songs embrace nature and travel, mental health, real life stories, loss, politics and history… and the threads that bind all this together can be followed back a long way, to 1965 when I got my first guitar and started to soak up material and ideas at a very rapid rate.”

Rooted features an array of stellar guest musicians, including Nancy Kerr (fiddle and viola), Andy Cutting (melodeon and diatonic accordion), Liz Hanks (cello), John Smith (electric guitar and vocals), Ben Nicholls (string bass and electric bass guitar), Julie Matthews (vocals), Alan Barnes (clarinet), Max Simpson (vocals), Amy Smith (vocals), Chris While (vocals) and Tom A Wright (drums and percussion). Richard Hawley and Dom Flemons contribute backing vocals and bones respectively to first single ‘Neo’ (out 21st June). As well as vocals, Martin himself plays banjola, 5-string banjo, 6-string fretless banjo, electric bass guitar and electric and resonator guitars!

Martin will tour extensively in support of Rooted. See full dates here.
PRE-ORDER

Out 5th July

John Tams - The Reckoning

CD / Digital
Deluxe Topic Treasures CD issue of the award-winning Topic album + 3 bonus tracks + 28 page booklet with new sleeve notes by acclaimed journalist/Sandy Denny biographer Mick Houghton + new intro by John Tams

Originally released in 2005, John Tams’ third and final album, ‘The Reckoning’ received produced a triple whammy at the following year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, winning Best Album, Best Traditional Track (for Bitter Withy) and Folk Singer of the Year.

Re-released in July as part of the popular Topic Treasures series, ‘The Reckoning’ is a masterful collection of traditional and self-composed material including a spell-binding reading of ‘The Bitter Withy,’ a powerful reworking of ‘A Man Of Constant Sorrow’ and a magnificient set of sea songs including ‘Pretty Nancy’ and ‘A Sailor’s Life.’ 
PRE-ORDER

Topic celebrated its 80th birthday with style and aplomb at the Barbican Centre in London last Friday, 7th June.

A veritable who’s who of the folk world took to the stage to toast the oldest independent record label in the world, weaving their way through a vast back catalogue whose first seed was planted back in 1939!

Performers included Eliza and Martin Carthy, Chris Wood, Marry Waterson, Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver, Olivia Chaney, Alasdair Roberts, Emily Portman, Sam Lee and Bernard Butler, Boss Morris and many more.
View the image gallery on Facebook
The Topic Records: Folk in Focus exhibition is on now at Cecil Sharp House [Free entry] and runs until 5 January 2020.

The exhibition features iconic photographs from the Topic Records archive focusing on the seminal artists who’ve helped shape contemporary folk music as we know it.

Featuring photographs by Brian Shuel, John Harrison, Judith Burrows, Dave Peabody, Elly Lucas, Eammon O’Doherty and George Van Win, 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. 

The Copper Family live at Cecil Sharp House

Saturday 29th June

TICKETS / INFO

Copyright © 2019 Topic Records, All rights reserved.
 mailing address:
Topic Records
Topic Records c/o Proper Music Distribution
1-5 Applegarth Drive, Questor, Dartford
Kent, Eng DA1 1JD
United Kingdom

Friday 7 September 2018

News From Topic Records September 2019






Historic Topic Records release available now

The Copper Family

Come Write Me Down by The Copper Family of Rottingdean finally brings the legendary 1950s and early 1960s Copper Family recordings to CD for the first time. These rare performances present the glorious 'Southern harmony', southern English that is, that The Coppers brought to prominence during the early part of the folk revival.

The classic duet harmonies of cousins Bob and Ron Copper are featured along with previously unreleased recordings of the quartet including both their fathers, the brothers John and Jim Copper.

The influence The Coppers and these recordings have had is inestimable. All this goes to make this release, arguably, the most important traditional music releases this century. Come Write Me Down has been carefully remastered with astonishing results, sounding better than anyone had originally hoped for.

Included are two booklets: a 60-page booklet with extensive biographies, historical notes and a 36-page book with full lyrics. Bob Copper sadly passed away shortly after receiving national recognition by way of his MBE and this CD release is possibly the finest archival tribute to his legacy and The Copper Family.

The Copper Family continue to perform and record songs, to this day keeping their Folk tradition alive and well.

Tracks:
1. Spencer The Rover 2. Good Ale 3. Thousands Or More 4. Babes In The Wood 5. The Banks Of The Sweet Primroses 6. Sweep! Chimney Sweep! 7. Two Young Brethren 8. The Brisk and Bonny Lad 9. The Month Of May 10. The Honest Labourer 11. The Birds In The Spring 12. My Father Had An Acre Of Land 13. Shepherd Of The Downs 14. The Threshing Song 15. The Seasons Round 16. Sportsmen, Arouse! 17. Hard Times Of Old England 18. The Lark In The Morning 19. Warlike Seamen 20. When Spring Comes In 21. The Brisk Young Ploughboy 22. Cupid’s Garden 23. Dame Durden 24. The Claudy Banks 25. General Wolfe 26. Adieu, Sweet Lovely Nancy 27. Talking 28. Come Write Me Down, Ye Powers Above

Norma Waterson - An Introduction to

TICD012
Release: 28th September 2018

Topic Records are delighted to announce this very special 12th instalment of our popular ‘Introduction To…’ series. ‘An Introduction to Norma Waterson’ draws songs from right across the revered British folk doyenne’s distinguished Topic career. Norma has personally selected 15 tracks for this release.

Norma Waterson is perhaps best known as one of the original members of the celebrated English traditional group, The Watersons, alongside her brother Mike Waterson and sister Lal Waterson, a cousin John Harrison, and in later incarnations of the group, her husband Martin Carthy. Her eponymously titled solo debut, featuring collaborations with her daughter, Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy and other members of The Watersons, as well as Danny Thompson (Pentangle), Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention) and Roger Swallow (Albion Country Band), was released by Hannibal Records in 1996 and was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.  In 1999, the follow-up, ‘The Very Thought of You,’ was released by Hannibal and once again featured Richard Thompson, Danny Thompson, Eliza Carthy and husband Martin Carthy.  In 2001, she released her first solo traditional folk album, ‘Bright Shiny Morning,’ on Topic Records.

Norma is a member of Waterson–Carthy with Martin Carthy and Eliza Carthy, and of the "supergroup" Blue Murder. She has appeared on a variety of collective recordings, notably Peter Bellamy's The Transports.  In 2010, Waterson released an album of collaborations with her daughter Eliza entitled Gift.

Norma was awarded an MBE in 2003 for the commitment and contribution to music and in 2016 received a life time achievement award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Tracks:
Seven Virgins (The Leaves Of Life) / T Stands For Thomas / Grace Darling  / Three Pretty Maidens  / John Ball / When First I Came To Caledonia / Polly’s Love (The Cruel Ships Carpenter)  / Fare Thee Well Cold Winter / Bright Shiny Morning  / One April Morning  / Song For Thirza / Once In A Blue Moon / The Outlandish Knight / The Oxford Girl / Bunch Of Tyme

Also available on Topic is the new album from Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy ‘Anchor’ TSCD594 Buy it Now.

From The Archive


The Copper Family Topic Records promotional photo

Topic Records Artists on tour 2018

Rachael McShane & The Cartographers
20 October 2018 - FOLK FESTIVAL, Manchester
21 October 2018 - Riverhouse Barn (Brunch Concert) Walton-On Thames
24 October 2018 - Norden Farm Arts Centre, Maidenhead
25 October 2018 - Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shorham-By-Sea
26 October 2018 - The Lights, Andover
27 October 2018 - The Slaughtered Lamb, London
28 October 2018 - Quay Arts Centre, Isle Of Wight
1 November 2018 - Alexander's Live, Chester
2 November 2018 - The Civic, Barnsley
3 November 2018 - Kirkgate Arts, Cockermouth
16 December 2018 - The Froize, Woodbridge, Suffolk

Martin Simpson
8 September 2018 - Aylsham Festival Dance, Music & Song, Norwich
www.aylsham-tc.gov.uk/aylsham-festival-of-dance-music-and-song/
14 September 2018 - Blaxhall Village Hall, Suffolk
15 September 2018 - The Neeld Arts Centre, Chippenham www.neeld.co.uk
21 September 2018 - Gala Theatre & Cinema, Durham www.galadurham.co.uk
22 September 2018 - The Frazer Theatre, Knaresborough www.kula-productions.com
28 September 2018 - The Goose Is Out!, Nunhead, London www.thegooseisout.com
www.wegottickets.com/thegooseisout
29 September 2018 - The Lowry, Salford, Greater Manchester www.thelowry.com

Eliza Carthy / Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band
Eliza Carthy & Martin Carthy duo / GIFT band Appearing at
2 November 2018 - Folk You! Mallorca
3 November 2018 - Folk You! Mallorca

Eliza Carthy - special guest performances Appearing at:
10th November 2018 - The Principal Manchester

Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band Appearing at:
6 October 2018 - Derby Folk Festival
19 October 2018 - Manchester Folk Festival

Martin Carthy
2 September 2018 - Mosley Folk Festival, Birmingham
8 September 2018 - Bermondsey Folk Festival, London
21 September 2018 - Chiddingly Arts Festival, Eastbourne
29 September 2018 - Llyn Acoustic Guitar Festival, Pwllheli

Topic Records Artist Birthdays

This month Topic Records celebrate the birthdays of Anne Briggs and Peter Bellamy.

Anne Briggs - Birthday 29th September 1944

Anne Briggs legendary status is in part, down to her mystique. Often imagined as a wandering siren, possessed of a voice that could take the listener right into the world of the old songs when she performed them, hypnotising the captive audience.

She would travel up the British Isles occasionally performing, often shunning company and on her rare visits to London, stay just long enough to be recorded. Early performances feature on the Topic albums ‘The Iron Muse’ and ‘The Bird In the Bush’. In 1963, she recorded tracks for The Hazards Of Love EP which would be released in August 1964.

The swinging sixties and the Folk Boom of the time provided what would have been the perfect back drop for success for Anne Briggs yet it seems success and stardom were the farthest things from her thoughts. Anne simply wanted to do things her way, a free spirit and this may explain why her recording and performing career only spanned between 1963 and 1973.

1971 saw the release on Topic Records of her eponymous first album. The LP featured John Moynihan from Sweeney’s Men and featured tracks like ‘Blackwater Side’ and ‘Maa Bonny Lad’. Regarded as a lost treasure this album captures Anne Briggs in all her vocal glory.
 

Peter Bellamy Born 8th September 1944 / Died 24th September 1991

Peter Bellamy (The Young Tradition) may not be a household name among Folk fans, but he should be! Considered to be one of the finest voices of the British Folk revival, he was a member of the Young Tradition Folk group who helped re-awaken the interest in traditional Folk music of England. He drew influence from the likes of Ewan MacColl, Harry Cox and the Rolling Stones!

In 1977, he produced the highly acclaimed ‘The Transports’ LP (A Ballad Opera by Peter Bellamy) which featured other Topic artists like Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, June Tabor and The Watersons.

1979 saw the release of his solo album ‘Both Sides Then’.  The album draws from many musical interests. Tracks like ‘The Lord Will Provide and ‘When I Die’ sound amazing as Peter Bellamy’s vocal powers through with passion and belief.

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Copyright © 2018 Topic Records, All rights reserved.
mailing address:
Topic Records
Topic Records c/o Proper Music Distribution
1-5 Applegarth Drive, Questor, Dartford
Kent, Eng DA1 1JD
United Kingdom