For me a classic example of an artist with a nice bit generic voice who delivers nice but generic music. It’s very “pleasant” but in a very dull way.
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There are some fine instrumentalists, but folk is now often seen as a niche interest, I think. The ‘About page’ on Eliza Carthy’s website begins ‘Describing herself simply as a ‘modern English musician…’ And so she is.
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I agree Mike. I don’t like to hark back “ in my day etc….” but there seems to be a sameness about many acts nowadays.
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There isn’t much of John James material about but there are a couple of albums on Qobuz and if you search on YouTube as John James guitarist there are one or two clips of him.
He is still playing into his 70s and devoted a lot of his time transcribing rag time for guitar.
One night he got hold of the resident bands electric guitar and he made many rock gods look a bit ordinary.
Thanks John! I’ll search him out when we are home.
I much prefer June Tabor and the Oysterband these days.
Though they are planning to retire next year.
Last time we saw Maddy we were disapointed
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I saw John James many times. He was very humourous and his guitar playing is the best acoustic/ragtime I have ever heard. In a folk club in Richmond in the early Seventies he was playing Ostrich Walk by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. He appeared to be getting to the end of the tune as the complexity was increasing but he slowed down and carried on. The playing became very intricate and I assumed he was finishing but again he slowed down a bit and he built up the complexity and finished in the most amazing way in a blizzard of notes and the whole audience just gasped loudly! His Scott Joplin ragtime tunes are wonderful. Stoptime is my favourite.
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The band were excellent musicians and the men sang too. I knew that Maddy is now 77 before we booked. I’ve not seen her live for 40 years so we had a great evening.
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I’m going to Transatlantic Sessions in York in February, the two big names are Loudon Wainwright III and Julie Fowlis. I haven’t seen Loudon for at least 30 years, it’ll be fun to see him again.
(Bloody autocorrect, fixed now.)
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Davy Graham probably inspired most acoustic guitar players on the folk scene. Bert was also a big Mingus fan and then you have John Renbourn’s interest in early music and Danny Thompson and Terry Cox came from jazz backgrounds, quite a melting pot. Not to forget Jacqui McShee’s contribution of course. I saw DG in 65 he was majestic, the second time like you was towards the end of his life and it was pretty tragic, such a waste.
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Folk, Blues and Beyond was way ahead of its time. Like you it was so sad to see him towards the end of his life as he never received the rewards and recognition he deserved.
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Jimmy Power, Irish Fiddle Player (Topic, 1976) via Qobuz. I like his rhythm and double stopping. https://www.topicrecords.co.uk/2010/12/jimmy-power-irish-fiddle-player-tsdl306/
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Billy Strings & Don Julin Fiddle Tune X 2014. Bluegrass. Live. Interestingly contains a version of ‘Shady Grove’ the tune used by Fairport for ‘Matty Groves’.
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The nearest I get to streaming is listening to an interesting podcast run by Alan O’Leary, who also runs a website selling cd’s, usually Irish music. The Copperplate Mail Order web shop is just about the best place for Irish music cd purchase. High Streets seldom stock Irish or Scottish music, (maybe some ‘world music’) so the Copperplate is where to go for cd purchase.
I used to call into a record shop on my way to work, and they had a large range of Folk music, and I added many LP records in those days, somewhere in Beckenham South London. Cannot remember the details, it was in the main road, just after I emerged from some short cut I used.
I do not have the means or inclination for streaming, and as an alternative I recommend the Copperplate Podcasts.
If I can share a link, see here
or put copperplate into duckduckgo
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This has been mentioned on Vinyl Preorder thread but worth repeating here, I think. I guess it counts as Irish traditional but very different from what I’m used to: four female singers with subtle instrumental accompaniment. It’s quite haunting and I’m going to treat myself to a Bandcamp download.
Roger
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The Watersons – Norma, Mike and Lal Waterson with their cousin, John Harrison. First issued 1965 and reissued by Topic with additional material.
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Haven’t found this lady here in the topic, so I figured I may point her out. I really love her voice.
She has been the voice of the Galician band Luar Na Lubre from 1996 until 2005. Maybe some of you may recognise her from her collaboration with Mike Oldfield, where she was part of his live shows of Tubular Bells III and also participated on some of his recordings. Later she also joined him during his participation in the Spanish Night of the Proms.
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