Phil Daniels

In the mood for a Shanty!

News

Jan 022012

With our recent write-up on the excellent new Chris Ricketts album, it’s led me to re-discover shanty music over the last few weeks, so I thought it only right to share a couple of shanty recommendations with you, as well as write a bit about the history of the tradition.

The work songs of the sea could sum up a sea shanty in its basic definition, however the tradition over the years has merged both work songs and songs or chants sung by the sailors for pleasure on the long voyages taken on the large merchant vessels of the time.

Many of the shanties have a very rhythmic groove to the lyrics, this mainly due to the repetitive nature of the sailors work, for example hauling ropes or loading cargo. There is also a lot of repetition in the song form itself, so it was quick to learn and easy for everyone to sing along to. In many of the songs there would have been a lead singer (known as the Shantyman – usually the man with the strongest voice) who started the song, with the rest of the sailors all joining in on what would have been classed as the chorus – however it wasn’t uncommon to find shanties that were sung from start to finish by all the crew.

As expected, these songs grew less and less common as the years went on, and less labour intensive work was required – however the songs were documented by early folk music purists – most notably Cecil Sharp, who it is believed actually learnt these songs and tunes directly from the veteran sailors.

As folk music in recorded form emerged, as did the sea shanty in to popular culture, with acts including Ewan MacColl, A L Lloyd and Stan Kelly recording versions of these songs – with artists such as The Clancy Brothers and The Watersons taking them in to the Folk Revival period.

Today, top folk acts such as Bellowhead and Show of Hands tip their hat to shanty tradition – and although an increasing number of artists will arrange these songs in different ways, the tradition is very much alive.

As I said in my album write-up, I’m convinced that over the next decade, Chris Ricketts will become one of the top, if not the top UK shanty singer. His delivery, passion and extensive research in to the genre make him a superb ambassador for the tradition. Check out this version of ‘Hanging Johnny’ as proof of my claim! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9ulPfypg08

One of the acts that influence Chris is also one of my all time favourite bands. Great Big Sea, from St Johns, Newfoundland are certainly one of the greatest exponents of shanty music to come out of Canada. They can play to 10,000 capacity arenas in North America – yet criminally they are practically unknown over here. In Sean McCann they have one of the great shanty voices and this is in evidence on their brilliant versions of ‘General Taylor’ and ‘Rant & Roar’, a Newfoundland interpretation of the British shanty ‘Spanish Ladies’.

To see just how popular GBS are – check out this video to another of their shanty inspired tracks – Lukey – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZpxnZ7kPmQ and a great live version of General Taylor – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B2SVthHZz0&feature=related

Recently, the sounds of Fishermans Friends from Port Isaac in Cornwall have brought the shanty right back to its original form. A brilliant version of South Australia with Show of Hands can be seen here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vUqeDPZZ80&feature=related

And finally – one of the great original recordings from two of the first artists to bring the sea shanty to record, Ewan MacColl and A L Lloyd – Haul on the Bowline – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57gYUNh9cVQ

Folking Live goes prime time!

News

Nov 232011

After 3 and a half years and 35 shows – Folking Live is going prime time!

February 18^th 2012 will see South Hill Park’s folk, roots and acoustic showcase event become a permanent fixture in
the weekend calendar, and the move is a massive endorsement to the show, which has grown from being very much a ‘let’s see how it goes’ affair, to a show that is now attracting some of the best talent on the UK folk and roots scene.

Thursday 24^th April 2008 was the first show we ever staged. With some experience of promoting at The Maltings in Farnham, the emphasis for Folking Live Bracknell was to put an event on that showcased the huge array of talent on the folk and roots scene that maybe wasn’t getting the exposure it deserved. We wanted to put on a show that was respected
and enjoyed by both the audience and the artists, and to create a platform for artists that had made a conscious decision to perform in the folk, roots and acoustic music genre.

The fantastic Anna and the Odd Socks headlined our first show. Their set was brilliant and fitted perfectly the direction we wanted to go. Support on that first night came from wonderful singer Naama Hillman from London, Bluesman Mark Buck, and a new folk singer on the scene – Anthea Neads (who may hold the record for the most Folking Live performances with 4).

Since that brilliant start we have had the pleasure to host some of the best artists making a name for themselves on the circuit – every one of them loving the venue, the format and mostly, the superb listening audience.

To name just a few acts that have played Folking Live over the last 3 and a half years that we’ve particularly enjoyed include:

Lewis Garland & The Kett Rebellion (still my all time favourite I think)

Chris Ricketts

Paul Liddell

Nathan Ball

Hannah Scott

Matthew and the Atlas (who have gone on to support Mumford and Sons – you heard them here first!)

Kiss the Mistress

Lou Brown

Emily Maguire

Rory Ellis

Tinderbox

Laveer

Black Peak

Phoebe Wright

The list goes on – and it really does. We have had so many fantastic artists pass through the Folking Live doors that it would be some event if we could bring them all together for a festival!

And as stated – it is the audience that they all comment on. We are and will always be so grateful to the folks that give us the benefit of the doubt and come out to our events. These are artists in the most part that people will be unfamiliar with, and it’s an honour and a privilege to be able to showcase these great acts to such a brilliant audience – who give every act their full attention and award them with a warm reception. A show is only a success if there is an audience to enjoy it.

And so we move to Saturday nights. The main aim for this is to try and convert some of the now and again audience who may have work commitments etc to worry about during the week, in to regular punters. It’s also a massive boost for folk music in the area. As gigging roots musicians ourselves, we know that Saturday night shows are few and far between – especially specialised folk, roots and acoustic nights. It will be a really interesting change to see how far we can take this event.

There are some very exciting plans in the pot, which will hopefully come to fruition over the coming months, however for the time being, we’re just looking forward to bringing Folking Live to the weekends. Everyone can enjoy a couple of beers, a meeting with like minded people, and of course always a great night of folk and roots music – in one of the very best venues for acoustic music anywhere in the country.

See you there!

Album Review: Chris Ricketts – Port of Escape

Album Reviews

Nov 022011

A good young shanty singer is exactly what the folk scene in this country needs. In a time when folk music is in some sort resurgence, it’s very much the more ‘contemporary’ sounding acts that are making waves. Not unexpected in a world full of X-Factor cast-offs and a new star every minute mentality – but there is a tradition to keep alive here, and I’ll stick my neck out by saying my money’s on people like Chris Ricketts to do just that.

For songs of the sea is where Chris has gone with his act, and a fine and worthwhile direction it is. After an unjustified mixed response to his last album, 2010’s ‘Simple Folk’ with bass player Mark Willshire – it was evident from that record that Chris’s future lay with breathing new life in to traditional songs, and the shanty tradition in particular.

From the first song on this new record, the shanty favourite ‘South Australia’, you can tell it immediately means business. The recording quality is first class, with everything mixed perfectly. Chris’s voice sounds rich and powerful, and with instrumental backing from such fine musicians as Garry Blakeley and Steve Hampton, it’s got quality written all over it.

The track listing is well thought out, with upbeat numbers interspersed with slower ones, both of which work well together and showcase Ricketts vocal range, and indeed his grasp on the shanty tradition. Classics like ‘Hanging Johnny’ and ‘Haul Away Joe’ are given well performed run-outs, alongside slower, yet no less well known tracks ‘Spanish Ladies’ and a quite brilliant acapella version of Stan Rogers ‘Northwest Passage’ – last given a run out of note on Show of Hands Cold Frontier album some 10 years ago.

However it is the second of only two original numbers on this record that is top of my tree. The Alan Doyle penned ‘Boston and St John’s’ has always been a favourite of mine, being one of few UK fans of the mighty Canadian shanty band Great Big Sea, of whom Doyle is lead vocalist. It is one of those rare tracks that could quite easily be a traditional song of the sea, and in Chris’s version it certainly conveys the feeling of an old classic.

In covering this track, whether intentional of not, it is a tip of the hat to the current crop of acts worldwide that are keeping this tradition alive, and in Port of Escape, Ricketts has put together an album, and indeed laid the foundations for a career that will serve him well for many years to come.

Check Chris out at www.chrisrickettsmusic.com

Album Review: Andrew Wiltshire – Memory of Voices

Album Reviews

Oct 252011

Memory of Voices is the third release from singer/songwriter Andrew Wiltshire, but as he confesses, the first he’s pushed a bit more than just to family and friends.

With a background in theatre, performing has always come naturally. With the first thoughts of performing covers in the main, the song writing bug soon hit and certainly the body of work on this album shows a writing maturity that you would expect from an artist on album number 3.

Wiltshire possesses a very emotive vocal, with hints of the classic singer/songwriter like Gilbert O’Sullivan or David Gates definitely there. The harmonies (Andrew backs himself on all the tracks) work well and its evident very early on that singing comes naturally to this artist.

It is a varied bag of songs that make up this record, very well put together dynamically and with ballads and bolder, more upbeat tracks nicely spaced on the record. Standout tracks include the excellent ‘Cold’, a troubadour like folk number with nice accompaniment and excellent harmonies – and the title track, the haunting ‘Memory of Voices.

This is a nice listen, and two or three full plays through will reward the listener. You can find out more about this artist at www.myspace.com/andrewwiltshire and you can find this record on iTunes and Amazon.

Album Review: Green Diesel – Kings At Sea EP

Album Reviews

Sep 152011

You won’t find a bigger line-up than that of young folk-rock band Green Diesel this side of Bellowhead, however the Faversham 9 piece are not just big in numbers, they are massive in talent as well.

Two fiddle players, accordion, guitars, mandolin, trumpet, a full rhythm section, and that’s not the end of it. They conjure up a sound that is solid in it’s folk tradition, yet slips in many different styles and influences.

Kings At Sea is the debut EP release from the band. Drawing heavily from their Kent heritage, the record is bold yet very accessible. The first track ‘The Saga of John Ward’, is a belter. A sultry start with the first airing of singer Imogen Dale’s Tabor-esq velvety vocal – before the band crash in with a trad inspired hook you’ll be humming for days. Great harmonies, great
playing all round.

The EP continues with a brilliant trad arranged instrumental, before further self penned tracks, the pick of which being the almost Cossack influenced All The Fun Of The Fair. If this band do anything they’ll keep your feet tapping, that’s for sure.

We rate these guys stupidly highly, and you can see them ply their trade around Kent and London.

Check them out at www.myspace.com/thegreendieseltheory

Also, listen to the track ‘The Saga Of John Ward’ on our player.