Martin Simpson – Skydancers The new album
- out 12 April 2024 on Topic Records
Topic Record report that Martin Simpson is not a man to
sit still for very long. Undoubtedly one of the hardest-touring musicians
on the UK folk/roots circuit, he also averages a brand-new studio album almost
every two years. ‘Skydancers,’
his 12th full length solo record for Topic since 1992, comes hot on the heels
of last year's guest-packed collaboration with the American producer/guitarist,
Thomm Jutz, ‘Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs of Mary Sands and
Jane Gentry.’
Recorded by Tom Wright and Andy Bell in Simpson's hometown of Sheffield,
‘Skydancers’ collects new, Simpson-penned originals alongside 18th century
broadside ballads and reverent reworkings from the songbooks of, amongst
others, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Woody Guthrie, Nancy Kerr, June Tabor and
Craig Johnson.
Skydancers' title track, commissioned by TV presenter and naturalist, Chris
Packham, highlights the plight of the endangered Hen Harrier – ornithology, a
keen interest of Simpson's. Elsewhere he narrates the life and times of
Billy Waters, a black, peg-legged man who became famous busking in London in
the nineteenth century. 'Roger's Cascade' is a very personal, jaunty,
5-string banjo homage to master instrument craftsman, Roger Bucknall
Simpson is
joined on ‘Skydancers’ by American pedal steel maestro, Greg Leisz, Andy
Cutting on diatonic accordion, Louis Campbell on acoustic and electric
guitar, Liz Hanks on cello, Ben Nicholls on string bass and a bevy of
accompanying singers.
‘Skydancers’ will be available as a double CD, vinyl album and to
download/stream. Those pre-ordering from Propermusic.com (only) will also
receive a limited edition ‘Skydancers’ guitar pick and signed
postcard.
Tracklisting
:
CD1
& Vinyl
1. Skydancers
2. New Harmony
3. Alan Tyne Of Harrow
4. Tom Sherman's
Barroom
5. Lowlands/Billy Waters
6. Roger's Cascade
7. Fragile Water
8. Cherry Tree Carol
9. Deportee
10. Donal Og
CD2
Only
1. Leaves Of Life (Live)
2. Yew Piney Mountains (Live)
3. Buckets Of Rain (Live)
4. Donal Og (Live)
5. Ridgeway (Live)
6. In The Pines (Live)
7. Flash Company
8. Cactus Tree
Topic is delighted to announce this eponymous collaboration between Jim Ghedi & Toby Hay - their first since 2018's 'The Hawksworth Grove Sessions.’ Postponed for two years due to the small matter of a global pandemic, finally, as some semblance of normality took shape, in February 2022, the duo headed into Giant Wafer Studios, mid-Wales, with very little rehearsal time and recorded the entire album live, with no edits or overdubs over three days.
Jim and Toby are both prolific, praised and established artists in their own right. Hailing from South Yorkshire, Ghedi's previous work has often been instrumental, exploring the natural world and his relationship to it, as seen on 2018's A Hymn For Ancient Land but also developing into using his voice, songwriting and traditional material on his more recent album, In The Furrows Of Common Place. Toby Hay, hailing from the Cambrian mountains, professes likewise, that the landscape serves as eternal muse and the spiritual groundwork of his entrancing guitar playing which has dazzled critics and listeners alike throughout his career. All of this makes their collaboration with the world's oldest independent label and custodians of UK folk music, Topic Records, a natural home for this exceptional record.
The album artwork includes beautiful liner notes by Andrew Male.
June 13th - The Old Church Stoke Newington, London Tickets
Happy Birthday Martin Simpson
Today (Friday May 5th) marks the 70th birthday of the world-acclaimed singer, guitarist, banjo player and songwriter, Martin Simpson. Martin released his first record for Topic (‘A Cut Above’ with June Tabor) all the way back in 1980 and has since become a central figure in the label’s story. His most recent albums, ‘Home Recordings,’ ‘Rooted,’ ‘Trails & Tribulations’ and ‘Vagrant Stanzas’ are indelible proof of a singular talent, ever-enthused, prolific songwriter and collaborator, much admired by fans and peers alike. Happy Birthday Martin!
News of a very special album featuring Mr Simpson coming soon!
More info (including his Patreon page) about Martin over on his official website.
The folk/Americana duo, Hannah Sanders &
Ben Savage have announced their new album, Ink of the Rosy Morning which
is scheduled for release on 1 April 2022Following the success of Before the Sun
(2016) and Awake (2018), both produced by David Travers-Smith in Toronto, the
duo opted for an altogether different approach for their new record.
They
hired a quiet old schoolhouse by the sea, sat in the dining room, lit the fire,
opened a bottle of wine, set up a few mics and played. Nothing pre-arranged. No
big ideas. No pre-production. No thought of releasing anything from it. Nobody
else around. Simply playing the songs they’ve known for years; savouring all
the energy and emotion they carry.
Since
emerging in 2016, Hannah & Ben have been defying all conventions of style,
genre and compartmentalisation. A touch of ‘Americana’, yet quintessentially
English. Traditional, yet contemporary, with their individual writing style.
Playful and instinctive, they make music with such panache and natural
chemistry it makes perfect sense.
Their intimate, pin-drop single microphone live
show has captivated audiences across the UK, US, Canada & Asia, sharing
the stage with the likes of Sarah Jarosz, Martin Simpson, Seth Lakeman and
Gretchen Peters.
As part of Topic’s #NationalAlbumDay sale, many Topic "Introduction To" titles are just £5.99 each. There's lots more titles available with 25% off until Sunday: https://propermusic.com/topic-national-album-day
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)
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Martin Simpson’s‘The Bramble Briar.’
A native of Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire, Martin Simpson had left to live out his
American dream 12 years earlier, living in such diverse places as New Orleans,
upstate New York and Santa Cruz, California.
Already recognised as one of the
great acoustic guitarists of his generation when he left, he immersed himself
in American music and honed his skills playing throughout the USA. This album
heralded his return to the motherland with a bang. Universally lauded, it won
the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for The Best Album of The Year in 2002. Martin was
also awarded the prize for Best Musician that year and again in 2004.
This eponymous 1971
debut album by Anne Briggs, largely unavailable for 48 years, is widelyregarded 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 and Briggs authority, Ken Hunt).
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.
Anne Briggs began
singing in local folk clubs in her teens. In 1962, she became part of the
Centre 42 – a leftist group of artists, writers, actors and musicians whose aim
was to make arts and culture accessible to the masses. Ewan MacColl first heard
Briggs’ remarkable voice and persuaded her to join the group and tour. There
Briggs met MacColl’s comrade, A.L. ‘Bert’ Lloyd who became her mentor,
producing her debut EP, ‘The Hazards Of Love,’ and recording Briggs for Topic
landmark albums, ‘The Iron Muse’ and ‘The Bird In The Bush.’
Briggs went on to
record a follow-up album, ‘The Time Has Come,’ for CBS which, at the time, sold
poorly and was rapidly deleted. Two years later, she recorded again but blocked
the subsequent album’s release, disheartened as she was by her singing. She
retired from the limelight, seemingly for good, although Topic’s 2019 re-issue
of this debut heralded a huge resurgence of media and fan interest in this most
reclusive of folk doyennes.
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
The Topic Records "Introduction" series of compilations are the ideal way to familiarise yourself with some of Topic Records’ biggest artists and they make great gifts for any budding folk fans.
An Introduction to June Tabor & An Introduction to Anne Briggs on Topic Records...
The second two releases in the Topic Introduction series are available now/..
An Introduction to June Tabor (TICD003) An introduction to the magical work of June Tabor. Covering songs from her many record releases on the Topic Record label between 1976 to 2011. June Tabor is quiet simply one of Britain’s greatest interpreters of popular Folk song and has been described by Elvis Costello as ‘The great voice of English folk music’.
Track list: 1. While Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping / 2. The Band Played Waltzing Matilda / 3. The Devil and Bailiff McGlynn / 4. No Man’s Land / Flowers of The Forest / 5. Unicorns / 6. The Scarecrow / 7. Aqaba / 8. Hedger And Ditcher / 9. Shallow Brown / 10. A Place Called England / 11. Maybe Then I’ll Be A Rose / 12. Oh! Alas, I Am In Love / 13. The Rigs Of Rye / 14. Finisterre / 15. The Dark End Of The Street
An Introduction to Anne Briggs (TICD004) An introduction to the magical work of Anne Briggs. Tracks include early recordings featured on albums ‘The Iron Muse’ and ‘The Bird In The Bush’ as well as material from her Hazards of Love E.P. and stunning solo album simply titled Anne Briggs. There is also the inclusion of tracks from her long-lost album ‘Sing A Song For You’.
Track list: 1. The Recruited Collier / 2. The Doffing Mistress / 3. Polly Vaughan / 4. Rosemary Lane / 5. Gathering Rushes In The Month Of May / 6. The Stonecutter Boy / 7. Blackwater Side / 8. Go Your Way (My Love) / 9. The Cuckoo / 10. Reynardine / 11. Young Tambling / 12. Maa Bonny Boy / 13. Sing A Song For You / 14. The Bonambuie / 15. Tongue In Cheek
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
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
Martin Simpson releases his new album "Home Recordings"
on 13 November and the latest single from the album is out today, find out
more below.
Martin
Simpson Home
Recording Out 13 November
Martin
Simpson’s next album was going
to be a live one. But the lockdown put paid to all that. Even so, this cloud
does have a silver lining.
And what a silver lining it is. Unable to play to audiences
(Martin can average over 100 gigs a year) or go into a recording studio, the
only solution was to record a new album at home.
Were it not for the gaggle of geese flying overhead (you can
hear them on ‘Lonesome Valley Geese’) and the birds happily tweeting on the
closing track, you perhaps wouldn’t know this wasn’t a studio album. Recorded
by his regular producer, now neighbour, Andy Bell, the aptly-named, ‘Home Recordings’
finds Martin singing and playing, literally amongst his beloved guitar and
banjo collection and out on his Peak District-facing porch.
Find the first two singles "October
Song" and "The
Times They Are A-Changin'"
“Martin is solo
throughout except for some sparingly used backing vocals and the sound of
Home Recordings somehow takes me back to when I first heard him playing as
support to Steeleye Span in the early 70s. I think this record will be close
to hand for quite some time.” - Folking.com
“This is an album to listen to over and over and which could only
really be improved upon had there been some interference from the cat.”
- Northern Sky (★★★★★ 5 stars)
““Home Recordings” is an unassuming title - but untold riches lie behind the
front door.”
- Rocking Magpie
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