She Moved Through the Fair

Richard Thompson on YouTube III

2007-06-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

Waltzing's For Dreamers (Seattle 1990)

I Misunderstood (Seattle 1990)

Wall of Death (Seattle 1990)

Neighbor's Theme \ Psycho Street (Seattle 1990)

Richard Thompson : Sweet Warrior

2007-06-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

There are few artists recording today who are able to maintain such a distinctive, consistent and instantly recognizable sound while remaining fresh and relevant . Richard Thompson is at the top of that very short list.

New release Sweet Warrior is more of the same and in Thompson's case that's a very good thing indeed. Long time fans will slip this right into thier heaviest rotation while newcomers will be hooked into the Thompson cult by the fourth track.

Richard Thompson on YouTube II

2007-06-05T11:14:00.000-07:00

Beeswing

1952 Vincent Black Lightning

Waltzing's for Dreamers

Cooksferry Queen

Shoot Out the Lights

Richard Thompson on YouTube I

2007-06-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

Crawl Back - Falcon Ridge 2003 (Live)

I Feel So Good (Sessions Live)

The Coo Coo Bird (w/ Eliza Carthy - Live)

Fairport Convention' Cancels US Gigs

2005-06-02T15:22:00.000-07:00

Fairport Convention's OFFICIAL news pages:

Postponed shows
The south-west and Californian legs of Fairport Acoustic Convention's current USA tour have been postponed. The band will play the remaining east coast dates – Philadelphia, Rochester NY, Saratoga Springs, Sellersville PA and Chester NY – then return to the UK. Our gigs page has full details of all shows.
Thank you for your support
A huge thank you from 'Fairport and family' to everyone who has expressed their goodwill and best wishes during the past couple of days, whether privately or on email lists, internet user groups, and bulletin boards.
Inevitably rumour and conjecture are also spreading over the internet. But the most reliable source of information remains here on Fairport Convention's official website.

Fairport Convention Milestones Calendar

2005-05-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

fairport: May 2005

The Strawbs, those 1970s folk-rockers, are back at it - The Register-Guard

2005-05-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

The Strawbs, those 1970s folk-rockers, are back at it - The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, USA:

What started as a bluegrass band named after Strawberry Hill - in Leicester, England - and evolved into one of the pioneering folk-rock acts of the 1970s has been reborn as an acoustic trio.
The Strawbs - featuring founding member David Cousins, Dave Lambert and Chas Cronk - are on the road in support of their 2004 album 'Deja Fou.' The tour leads to Cafe Paradiso, 115 W. Broadway, at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Devendra Banhart | Young God Records

2005-05-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

Devendra Banhart | Young God Records:

I first heard the crude home made recordings of Devendra Banhart, then a homeless, wandering, neo psych/folk hippie artist and musician, not yet 21 years old. We released these recordings on YGR because we'd never heard anything quite like them, ever. His voice - a quivering high-tension wire, sounded like it could have been recorded 70 years ago - these songs could have been sitting in someone's attic, left there since the 1930's. The response was astounding . Devendra soon moved here to NYC (from SF), where he lived in squats, couch-surfed, and finally found himself a home (very recently), suddenly riding a tidal wave of press acclaim, 3 or 4 US tours, tours in Europe, a special feature on NPR (for God's sake) – in short, a seismic shift in his fortunes. He's the most genuine, least cynical and calculated artist I've ever known, and he deserves every bit of the good things now coming his way. He's also one of the most innately talented, magical performers I have ever heard. Period. He GIVES. This kind of generosity and breadth of emotion is all too rare these days. Whether the songs are pained, twisted, whimsical, or even sometimes weirdly silly, aside from being fantastically musical and expertly played, they are also utterly sincere, and devoid of a single drop of post modern irony. In short, he's the real thing.

'You had to hold on to the furniture when Sandy sang'

2005-05-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

Guardian Unlimited | Arts Friday Review | 'You had to hold on to the furniture when Sandy sang':

The life, death and reputation of Sandy Denny are a perfect case in point. Equipped with an incredible voice and an immense songwriting talent, she was none the less plagued by the chronic insecurities that led her into excess. Her drinking partners included the late Keith Moon and John Bonham; the folk-tinged milieu from which she came also included Nick Drake. She died aged 31, in 1978 - but whereas lesser talents have been posthumously feted, she remains a decidedly cult interest.
For some, that's a sign of her singular talent. 'The thing that always amazed me about Sandy,' says her friend and contemporary Linda Thompson, 'was that she thought she actually could appeal to the masses. Of course she couldn't - and who would want to? If you're writing songs that people can shoot themselves to, you know you're not going to be in the charts. Sandy's music was uncomfortable. It demanded too much.'

Maartin Allcock News

2005-05-03T19:05:00.000-07:00

Middleton Guardian - News:

And musician Maartin Allcock will no doubt be paying a visit to his parents, who still live on Langley, before appearing at the Bury Met this Saturday.
Maartin - he started spelling his name with two 'a's after an Irish musician remarked on his north Manchester accent while introducing himself - plays lead guitar with one of his many bands, Blue Tapestry, at the Met this weekend.
A great friend of broadcaster, musician and comic Mike Harding, Maart was in the vanguard of the Harding-inspired re-introduction of the folk music scene to Middleton in the early 1970s, principally at the Ring o' Bells in St Leonard's Square.
Since those early days Maartin Allcock, now aged 48, was catapulted to the top of the music pile, becoming a member of folk icons Fairport Convention for 11 years, and later Jethro Tull, for four years.

Richard Thompson News : Plans Album, Box, Live Releases

2005-05-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

Thompson Plans Album, Box, Live Releases:

Revered singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard Thompson has an impressive slate of releases planned throughout the rest of 2005, including a new studio album, a five-disc box set and several live CDs and DVDs.
The new studio work, 'Front Parlour Ballads,' will be Thompson's first solo acoustic album in more than 25 years. Due Aug. 9 through Cooking Vinyl USA, the album boasts 13 songs, with instrumentation largely performed by Thompson and only occasional percussion added by Debra Dobkin (Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt).

What is 'Neo-Folk'? - Topic Powered by Infopop

2005-04-08T17:14:00.000-07:00

What is 'Neo-Folk'? - Topic Powered by Infopop:

There's a considerable buzz about something called 'Neo-Folk' or 'Anti-Folk' and I was curious how one would classify this sub-genre.

Alasdair Roberts - About as queer as folk

2005-04-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

About as queer as folk - The Herald

"Alasdair Roberts doesn't like the F-word. "I'm not a folk singer," he insists, looking ever so slightly twitchy about such an apparently contrary epithet. "I'm not really interested in continuing any kind of tradition. It's about something more selfish than that."
Denials like this have already lost the Callander-born singer and guitarist column inches in his native land, where scene-setters intent on creating some mythical "new Scottish folk revival" have had their angle snapped apart as abruptly as an overwound acoustic guitar string..."

Paste Magazine : The Rose and the Briar

2005-04-05T16:24:00.000-07:00

Paste Magazine :: Review :: The Rose and the Briar :: Death, Love and Liberty in the American Ballad - Edited by Sean Wilentz and Greil Marcus

Some of the old songs have a complicated history and a varied pollination. “Matty Groves,” for instance, a bloody tale of adultery avenged, came to its maturity in England as “Little Musgrave” and “Lady Darnell,” then passed on to America (where some iterations allow the star-crossed lovers to live). But it was “a degenerate American version” that was covered by the English folk-rock group Fairport Convention.

Ashley Hutchings News

2005-04-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

Ashley Hutchings Official Website

The Rainbow Chasers, Ashley’s new group, continues to gig and to pick up great plaudits and reviews from audiences and organisers alike, as well as the media who have made the effort to check out the group thus far.

As the Rainbow Chasers’ first album, “Some colours fly” on the Talking Elephant label (TECDO73), is officially released on 11th April, the Saltaire gig listed below has been designated a launch gig for the new album. This will also be the day that Free Reed Records launch a magnificent 4 CD boxed set, plus book, entitled “Burning Bright”, covering Ashley’s career. Anyone who has seen their award-winning boxed sets of artists such as Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick and Fairport Convention knows how extensive and well structured the set will be. Neil Wayne and Nigel Schofield have compiled a major career retrospective and celebration of Ashley’s life and music. The lavish boxed set features four full length themed and bookletted CDs, huge full colour book and rare picture archive, plus an extra 5th 'write-in' free CD.

Through the Fair Podcast - Show One

2005-03-30T14:05:00.000-08:00

Through the Fair Podcast - Show One
Download Link (scroll down for downloading instructions)

Tracklist:

Sinead O'Conner | He Moved Through the Fair
All About Eve | The Witches Promise
Loudest Whisper | Silent O'moyle
Single Gun Theory | Motherland
Heron | Lord and Master

Show Notes:

Sinead O'Conner | He Moved Through the Fair
Find this track on The Cheiftans Long Black Veil and hear Sinead interpret more traditional Celtic folk on Sean-Nos Nua and the live DVD Goodnight, Thank You, You've Been a Lovely Audience.

All About Eve | The Witches Promise
Tull cover culled from the fairly rare CD Single for December. Most famous for the gorgeous single Martha's Harbor and lead singer Julianne Regan's equally gorgeous voice - Regan's also appeared at a number of Fairport's Cropedy Shows.

Heron - Lord and Master
Found on the wonderfulGather in the Mushrooms: British Acid Folk compilation. More band info at Relaxx Records' Heron site.

Loudest Whisper - Silent O'moyle
From the Kissing Spell release Children of Lir.

Single Gun Theory - Motherland
From the Aussie trio's Flow, River of My Soul album. More on SGT at their Official Site

EOL Audio defines Neo-Folk

2005-03-23T23:07:00.000-08:00

Fairly narrow and a touch dismissive, though not inaccurate...

EOL Audio : Neo Folk

"Perhaps one of the most extreme offshoots of goth, indeed arguably not an offshoot at all, but merely another dark, morbid style of music that appeals to dark, morbid people. Ironically, neo-folk (aka 'apocalyptic folk, especially when referring to Current 93) is music that's historically amongst the closest to the original definition of 'gothic', incorporating pre-20th Century passage, concepts and aesthetic (the medieval scene embraces this concept with greater authenticity, however)."

The Unbroken Circle Blog

2005-03-19T13:49:00.000-08:00

The Unbroken Circle Blog

Astonishingly good Wyrd Folk blog from Mark Coyle. Massive amounts of useful information can be found here - a perfect board from which to dive into the deeper waters of the Wyrd Folk scene and beyond.

Go
Read
Now !

"For Christians, Elves and Lovers"

2005-03-19T12:24:00.000-08:00

Gojira69's Ephemeral Treasures: "For Christians, Elves and Lovers":

Cult classic currently being shared by Gojira69... an acquired taste but, if you're so inclined, a delicious one...

All Saved Freak Band: 'For Christians, Elves and Lovers' (1976)
Rock the World Enterprises ASFB-1001

"J. R. R. TOLKIEN, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, said "The birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man's history. The Resurrection is the eucatastrophe of the story of the Incarnation. This story begins and ends in joy."

It should be of the utmost interest to millions of his readers what Tolkien believed about the Gospel and God, and their relationship to fantasy. And more than fantasy alone, but also to the real world, angels, men, and elves. He talks about these things and more on the inner sleeve of this album."

Fairport Convention Song Helps Police Families

2005-03-17T14:47:00.000-08:00

Fairport Convention Song Helps Police Families: "

The Fairport Convention song 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes' has been recorded by Vanessa Wheeler as a charity single to help the devastated families left behind when an officer is killed on duty."...

...In March 2004 Ian Northcott, one of Vanessa's friends,introduced her to 'Sandy Denny' and Fairport Convention. Vanessa fell in love with the song, Who Knows Where The Time Goes. She decided to recored the song as a charity single.

Ian is a long term fan of Fairport Convention and contacted the band when Vanessa was let down by musicians and recording facilities. Simon Nicol and Fairport duly stepped in to help.

"I cannot tell you what a fantastic day I had yesterday recording The Rose and Who Knows Where The Time Goes with Simon" says Vanessa. "It was an amazing experience to say the least. The first run through of WKWTTG, the first time with Simon, was very nervy. Once I got the first one out of the way I relaxed and I really think I have done justice to Sandy's song. Simon, of course, played superbly. A surprise for me was Chris Leslie playing a superb fiddle part. Many thanks to chris too".

Last Night of the Proms For Fairport

2005-03-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

icCoventry - Last Night of the Proms For Fairport

Legendary folk-rockers Fairport Convention are assured of a great reception when their latest tour ends with a "Last Night of the Proms" gig in Birmingham.

The highly-successful Over The Next Hill winter tour reaches its climax on Saturday, March 12, with an eagerlyawaited appearance by the renowned band at the Alexandra Theatre.

The title of the tour is a wry reflection of the 'hill' the long-established band had to climb last year as Fairport were forced into the complete reorganisation of their touring and recording interests.

Fairport also had to organise a new management structure for their annual folk-rock festival extravaganza at Cropredy in Oxfordshire because of the sad marriage split of bass player Dave Pegg and his wife Christine, who had organised the event for 25 years.

Tull's Anderson in tune with his Scottish roots

2005-03-17T14:29:00.000-08:00

The Scotsman - Tull's Anderson in tune with his Scottish roots

"Musical development for Anderson was about identifying the sound. He listened to bits of Scottish folk and church music and wanted to play elements of blues in a way that felt more natural to him – as white and middle class – so in a more emotionally honest way.

In was in the Sixties - the Beatles were in the spotlight - when Anderson mucked around with folk tunes as he honed his music. He would visit the Scottish lowlands to experience "the essence of folk music … as it taps into something ancient.""

Jethro Tull - Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 DVD

2005-03-17T14:13:00.000-08:00

Vintage Tull live from the Isle of Wight.

DVD info from Amazon...

In this stunning snapshot of the last hurrah of the hippie movement, Award Winning Directo Murray Lerner captures the tension between the crowd and organizers for the final day of the festival. Ian Anderson provides his thoughts throughout the program as well, to give the viewer a unique perspective on what Jethro Tull was about at this moment in time. They were still a relatively new band, yet superstardom was in the near future. The band lineup for this show consists of: Ian Anderson (vocals, flute, acoustic guitar), Martin Barre (electric guitar), Clive Bunker (drums), Glen Cornick (bass), and John Evan (keyboards).

Set List:
1. My Sunday Feeling
2. My God
3. With You There To Help Me
4. Cry You A Song
5. Beret
6. Dharma For One
7. Nothing Is Easy
8. Medley (We Used To Know/For A Thousand Mothers
The CD version of this same concert was released last year to excellent reviews...

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Iron and Wine - Woman King EP

2005-03-17T14:03:00.000-08:00

yaledailynews.com - The return of the neo-folk king:

"Sam Beam is a careful man. Long before he had a backing band to speak of, he hid behind the pseudonym Iron & Wine, carefully layering ghostly vocal tracks over carefully picked guitar melodies on a four-track recorder. His second full-length album, 'Our Endless Numbered Days,' used richer production without abandoning stark simplicity: The result was a new, crisper sound, coming from the same ghosts, the same guitars.

Now, with the release of the six-song EP 'Woman King,' Beam carefully lets us know that his music has a trajectory -- and what a lovely trajectory it is. A quiet man's electric album, it is still very much acoustic; and for an album namely about women, it occasionally verges on bellicose."

The East Carolinian - Iron & Wine: the man, the music, the mystery revealed

So you like Jack Johnson, Howie Day, Ryan Adams, Nick Drake, Damien Rice and all of the other acoustic crooners' right? Then you will love Iron & Wine. Sam Beam is the founder of the group, lead singer and writes all of the music. Simply put, he is a genius. Beam has created a smooth acoustic feel, with light percussion in his band, Iron & Wine.

Beam, currently residing in Florida as a teacher, has brought a lot of new tactics to the acoustic genre. His southern upbringing has influenced a lot of his music into a James Taylor-esque feel. In his new CD, Woman King, an accoutrement of instruments is incorporated to the EP. When blended together as Beam does, it brings forth a beautiful harmony, almost like an earthy sound.

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Linda Perhacs - Official Site

2005-03-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

Linda Perhacs

"one of "the 67 lost albums you must own" (Mojo Magazine)

Linda Perhacs' album Parallelograms was released on Kapp in 1970. It was reissued from Linda's own, superior master tape in 2003 on The Wild Places label. Songs from this version of Parallelograms are available for purchase in MP3 format at Lost in the Grooves.

Linda Perhacs was a Beverly Hills dentist"s assistant with a secret life. Strange, potent music flowed through her like a swift-moving stream. In childhood, her creative efforts were stunted. As a young woman, surrounded by the energies of late-sixties Los Angeles and a circle of turned-on friends, the music refused to be denied. Among Perhacs" patients was film composer Leonard Rosenman, who asked to hear her songs. The homemade tapes so impressed Rosenman that he secured an album contract, called his favorite session players (including Shelly Mann and Milt Holland) and commenced the yearlong recording of Parallelograms.