New Music 2016 - Part 48 - Seth Lakeman - Ballads Of The Broken Few

This is not perhaps what you might have expected Seth Lakeman to do next. All I can say is that I am mighty glad that he did. I did wonder if his focus on music about or from the South West of England might have run it's course. Well now we don't know, at least for now.
Seth and his band toured the UK in 2015 with Devon trio Wildwood Kin, whose own music is acoustic Americana folk with much UK influence, as his primary supporting act. This is the musical development of that.

Seth Lakeman featuring Wildwood Kin - Ballads Of The Broken Few (Cooking Vinyl, 16 September 2016).

This is certainly no lash-up. The two acts seem to have bought the very best out of each other - that is Seth Lakeman was tempted into Appalachian territory and Wildwood Kin self-deployed in three-part-harmony heaven on nine of the eleven tracks. So who might buy into this vision? 
Ethan Johns produced the record, much of it was recorded as live takes, and that says a great deal. There is a single cover song - and a surprising one - for it is 'Anna Lee'. Written by Laurelyn Dossett it first appeared on Levon Helm's 2007 album 'Dirt Farmer'.


Ballad Of The Broken Few - live at Torre Abbey, Devon. Some of the other videos were recorded in the rather ramshackle parts of Poltimore House in East Devon. As well as all that Wildwood Kin is recording its own début album but that's for another post...

New Music 2015 - Part 58 - Fiddle & Banjo - Tunes from The North, Songs from The South

It will soon be time for me to head off into the fields of folk for four nights and three days. It seems therefore a good idea to get attuned to the idea that certain instruments will be far more prevalent than is usual at a more general music festival.

This little gem from Canada is doing just that for me right now all thanks to the folk at FATEA for bringing it to my attention.

Daniel Koulack (banjo) and Karrnnel Sawitsky (fiddle) as Fiddle & Banjo, and guests Joey Landreth and Amy Matysio (vocals on the five tracks that are not tunes).
Their stated aim is to marry the Northern (Canadian) tunes played on these two instruments with the Southern (Appalachian) songs that use the same - and do so very well. In fact, historically it goes back longer and further than that. The part of Saskatchewan that Sawitsky comes from still has a strong musical influence originally brought to Canada from immigrants from what is now Ukraine in particular, as well as from other parts of northern and eastern Europe. The history of Appalachian and bluegrass music has stronger ties with far western Europe, particularly the British and Irish tradition but with definite French and Spanish influences. I suspect that, if you listen to it all a few times that you will spot plenty more.

There is no reason why the concept should not work; this LP serves to show just how spectacularly well it was done. It was released by Kos Green Music on 10 March 2015. I am unaware of any physical availability as yet - I have been too intent listening to be honest - but it is available on d/l from Amazon and to stream on Spotify and Rdio (and doubtless others too).

Live and not at all local...

'Thoughts on Music' is taking a time-out for a couple of days. It will return early next week. Rather than mull over last night's BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, which I considered doing, I will hold that comment over until next week.
I decided upon sharing this instead. In a way it is more vital.
I have mentioned 'Free The Honey' before and whilst purveyors of for the most part Appalachian music that is not to say that gypsy fiddle and more beside will not be included, for they are. The four band members - Katherine Taylor, Jenny Hill, Lizzy Plotkin and now made complete by Andrew Cameron (upright bass) come from a wide milieu but are all based in the high mountains - Gunnison, in western Colorado. Free The Honey is working towards a début LP.
This was a support set to further that project. You will have to suffer, or fast-forward, the rambling introduction but that has nothing to do with the band. We have all been there, I'm sure, in similar circumstances. I'd recommend that you start 7 minutes 19 seconds in.

Once you get to the music they play nine songs or tunes; it is a delight.

Free The Honey is currently recording the band's début album, which is scheduled for release in September. As yet untitled it can be pre-ordered here, including signed copies.
The pound Sterling reached a three-month high against the US dollar at the end of the week, so of course I took advantage of that!