Folk News from the UK - October 2000
Contents:
UK News
The Irish Connection (an interview with Mary Black's bass player, James Blennerhassett)
London Gigs
Best of the Rest of the UK
UK Festivals
UK News
A bumper crop of incredible gigs in prospect this month in London, culminating in what has become the highlight of the capital's Autumn folk calendar - the annual Folk in the Fall concert series at The Purcell Room on London's South Bank, overlooking the River Thames by Waterloo Bridge.
But if what you need is beautiful countryside and the chance to brush up on your guitar licks, you might consider jetting off to the North West of Scotland - to Ullapool on the shores of Loch Broom. Their Guitar Festival has managed to attract many of the UK's top acoustic players for a series of workshops and performances, including the likes of John Renbourn , who has been commissioned to write a special piece for the event. (see UK Festivals below)
Talking of John Renbourn, a new biography of fellow ex-Pentangle member, Bert Jansch, entitled 'Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch & The British Folk Blues Revival' by Colin Harper has recently been published (Bloomsbury). According to Ian Anderson, editor of UK's Folk Roots Magazine, "It's not just exhaustive, it's exhausting. There's so much major and minor information bursting from every paragraph, it leaves you breathless...a major work of Britfolk scholarship, and fun with it."
In addition to Bert's own new album 'Crimson Moon', a new tribute album entitled 'People On The Highway - A Bert Jansch Enconium' has just been released in the UK by Market Square Records. This 24-song double album comes with a fully-illustrated 16pp booklet and includes versions of classic Jansch songs by Chris Smither, Al Stewart, Roy Harper, Donovan, Steve Tilston, Eleanor McEvoy, Kelly Joe Phelps, and Ralph McTell, amongst others.
News too of the first volume of Ralph McTell's two part autobiography, 'Angel Laughter' due to be published this month by UK imprint 'Amber Waves' (whose previous titles include 'Other Voices: A Personal History of Folk Music' by Nanci Griffith and Joe Jackson, and 'Songbuilder: The Life and Music of Guy Clark' by Nick Evans and Jeff Horne). Ralph, probably still best known internationally for his classic song 'Streets of London', has long been one of the UK's finest songwriters and country blues fingerpickers. He'll be reading extracts, singing and signing copies at Borders Bookshop, Charing Cross Road in London on October 3rd (6.30 pm). His new studio album 'Red Sky' will be released on the following day as he heads off on an extensive UK tour
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The Irish Connection An Interview with James Blennerhassett
Last month I spotted some airplay in the States for top Irish double bass player, James Blennerhassett, whose second solo album 'End of a Longer Day' has recently been released in the US by Hollywood-based label Blix Street ). Best known as a bass player, James is a highly-respected multi-instrumentalist whose long list of credits includes studio and concert work with artists as diverse as Mary Black, Brian Kennedy, Sharon Shannon, Mairtin O'Connor, Kieran Goss, Frances Black, Andy White, and 4 Men and a Dog, amongst others.
PC: "Hi James. The last time I saw you, you were playing in Frances Black's band at The Mean Fiddler in London, along with Arty McGlynn and Nollaig Casey . (I remember being pleased when you played one of my songs that night). Are you still working with Frances?"
JB: "Hello there PC. Good to hear from you again and I'm glad that you're enjoying the album. I haven't worked live with Frances since June'96 - I decided at that time that I had had enough of long tours and needed a break. Also, I had the opportunity to play with Mairtin O'Connor which I really wanted to do. Musically, I needed to stretch myself again in a different direction - brilliant music. I also wanted to write tunes that I had in my head and needed to be at home to do this - you can guess the rest - Bank manager - loan - buy gear - sweat over repayments etc."
PC: "I read you've also been recording with her sister, Mary Black, recently. What has that been like?"
JB: "Mary is amazing to work with - she has a great sense of what is right in a tune and is not afraid to let you loose if you are pursuing a thread or idea. I have also been a member of her band for 2 years now - most enjoyable - I would have to say!"
PC: "I noticed on the web page for your debut solo album, 'Celtic Dawn' (Beaumex BMCD 570) you say that, to your knowledge, no one has made an album in Ireland using 'Basses' as the primary instruments before - (and, interestingly, most of the tunes were played on a six string bass with a capo on the twelfth fret!) - I see you had a hard time getting that album released."
JB: "Impossible even! I had to opt for the dreaded "Celtic" title just to release it. But it was a means of getting my music heard and led to my signing with Gifthorse/Blix Street (Bill Straw). I think good music will always out in the end!!"
PC: I saw that Gifthorse/Blix Street, (whose artist roster also includes Mary Black, Eva Cassidy, Dougie MacLean , Grace Griffith, Celeste Krenz, and Noel Brazil) had picked up your latest solo album 'End of a Longer Day' in the States. Do you have any plans to do more solo projects?
JB: "I have written all the tunes for my next album and have just started to record it in my own studio. I have to fit the recording in between the paying work - you know what I mean - but I hope to have it finished around Feb'01. It is (I hope) a progression and is slightly different including classical harp and soprano sax/clarinet on some tunes - I'm very pleased with them. By the way, I am looking for a distributor in the UK/Europe, and would appreciate any contacts in this area that you think would enjoy the music."
PC: "Many thanks James, and very best wishes for all your future musical adventures."
Go to:
London gigs
Best of the Rest of the UK
Festival Listings
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