Not sure “harp” really dues justice to what she does. Well worth seeing live though. Pretty intense.
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They are coming to Stroud later this month - but no venue announced yet.
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Mary Black Down the Crooked Road The soundtrack to her autobiography. (2014). Mary is making a retirement tour of Ireland in 2026.
Track list:
- Carolina Rua
2.The Moon and St. Christopher
3.Another Day
4.The Loving Time
5.Schooldays Over
6.Colcannon (With the Black Family)
7.No Frontiers
8.Mountains to the Sea (Feat. Imelda May)
9.The Circus
10.I Live Not Where I Love
11.Ring Them Bells (Feat. Joan Baez)
12.Past the Point of Rescue
13.Faith in Fate
14.Sonny (Feat. Dolores Keane and Emmylou Harris)
15.Moments
16.Ellis Island
17.Paddy’s Lamentation (Feat. De Dannan)
18.Who Knows Where the Time Goes
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Tracks 1 and 7 always get me.
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I was not able to listen to her when she was in Stroud on Saturday; but, a friend who did brought me this album (clouds). There are a few YouTube videos of her explaining what a triple harp is and playing some tunes.
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Just to clarify her ‘Farewell Tour’ is in April/May/June 2026.
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Thanks for correction.
Danny Thompson certainly influenced folk music in these islands as well as other kinds of music.
https://thehobbledehoy.com/2021/09/28/the-artistry-of-danny-thompson-part-1-the-1960s/
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https://musicaficionado.blog/2022/01/04/danny-thompson-part-2-the-early-1970s/
There are more parts to this informative blog.
Lucy Parker’s debut CD A Beautiful Place to Die seen under local artist in HMV Birmingham. She’s a singer songwriter from Wolverhampton. Folkish/pop - the last track is the most folk. Well produced though her voice is pitched high for me. I’ve on antibiotics for an infection at the moment so this may well affect my perception. Will play again when I’ve recovered as I bought her CD. Good review from Folking.com
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I’m assuming she is singing within her natural range, but I agree it close to being shrill.
On Qobuz there is another album listed, which appears to be sung in Hebrew. Pleasant Brit pop, certainly not folk.
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Undoubtedly her natural range. Probably my hearing at the moment! ‘Like an Irish Folk Song’ draws from the folk tradition to my mind at any rate.
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A recommendation from an old colleague: Canadian outfit with Syrian (?) influences. World music rather than folk, but the Middle Eastern sound is beguiling.
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Jackie Oates, The Violet Hour CD from 2008
1. Lark In the Morning
2. The Bonny Labouring Boy
3. Billy Reilley
4. Hampton Lullaby
5. Tobias The Grinder; Our Trip To Croyde
6. Richie’s Lady
7. Young Donald
8. Rob Roy
9. Crockery Ware
10. Summer’s End
11. Goodbye To Beesands And To Magic
12. My Ship’s Lost Its Rigging
13. Wishfulness Waltz
14. 3/8 Bourrees (live)
Produced by Phil Beer with guest musicians including Jim Causley, Tim Van Eyken, Jim Moray and Belinda O’Hooley.
Jim Moray is Jackie’s brother, birth name Douglas Oates. There are some contemporary songs on the album which fit well with the trad material.
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Linde Nijland – Sings Sandy Denny (with Bert Ridderbos)
A refreshing interpretation which doesn’t try to imitate Sandy.
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Came across this via the mailing list for Cafe #9 in Sheffield having seen Ruth Theodore there. Nothing profound but… lovely.
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@mikehughescq Thanks Mike! I see they have a new album One of Many in the Spring and a gig at Cecil Sharp House on 22nd April. A Canadian Duo I’ve not come across before.
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Using a broader definition of folk I think this is in. A bluegrass band with small scale strings. Very much an album about processing grief and right up there as one of my albums of the year.
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Who or what was the North Star Grassman? What are its / his origins?
My research has drawn a blank … is there anything in the folk archives?
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