Little known folksingers of today

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 07:27 AM

Boys From The Hill are a maginificent Swansea acoustic duo.

Mulberry Blue, the best band to come out of West Yorkshire since The Duncan McFarlane Band.

John Wilson from North Yorkshire and Ian Pittaway from the Midlands are brilliant solo traditional singers.

From America, Tempest play outstanding folk-rock while Michael Elwood, Ellis Paul and David Rovics are top quality writers.

Slightly better known but with nowhere near enough recogition are:
Tom Pacheco
Eddy Morton
Magpie Lane
Julie Ellison
Ed Rennie
Keeper's Fold

The list could go on and on!

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 03:07 AM

Oggie's right about Brian Dawson. A great performer - singer and accordion-player - and a veritable encyclopaedic knowledge of all things Yellowbelly. And a lovely, gentle guy who genuinely doesn't realise how good he is. A musical Hero.
S:0)

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: oggie
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:39 PM

"oggie (PS)-why should they, is there any surplus/added value?"

No added value but given the amount of negative and sometimes derogatory comments that are made from time to time I find it sad that people are not prepared to put their names to them. That is a general comment not specifically just for this thread. I accept that amonngst longtime users you may know who each other is but there are many of us who don't know who "x" is.

Manfred, it was not intended as a sneering comment, my apologies if you felt it was.

Steve Ogden

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: david from cleckhuddisfax
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:22 PM

i cannot let this thread go by without highlighting the superb and sardonic master of eponymous folksy americana Tom pacheko who sings all the words George W should get into his thick skull and has been red necked out of many an american folk venue accordingly God Bless Him for conviction .

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Beer
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:19 PM

Ray Materick
David Massengill
Crescent and Frost

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Scoville
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:17 PM

Roots Cajun is a beautiful thing, and there seem to be quite a number of younger bands out there. It's not all zydeco and swamp-rock.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Jim Lad
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:01 PM

I think the feast of the Condescension is Aug 17th. Can't be sure though will have to check the calendar.
Are we spiralling downwards again?

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Leadbelly
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 04:52 PM

oggie (PS)-why should they, is there any surplus/added value?

Is this a sneering comment, too?

By the way, asking for a more concrete formulation of an (interesting) question has nothing to do with condescension.

Manfred Götze

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 04:49 PM

anon, and his irish mate gan anim.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Jim Lad
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 04:43 PM

Fair Question, Steve: If I used my real name every time I blogged then those searching for my home page by name would find themselves swimming in a sea of B.S. and I would never be found.
Just business, that's all.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: oggie
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 04:26 PM

A serious answer to this thread would be Brian Dawson but I know that all the cognecenti will say "We know him". Yes I know he's known in Lincolnshire and a few other places but as a link to the tradition and as someone who can charm almost any audience and who has a scholarly, informed knowledge of his subject but who can make "folk music " seem real and interesting and alive he's the best I've seen.

The other answer to this thread is that half the replies show what I most dislike about Mudcat, the sneering, knowing condesention to a serious question, fortunately there's enough of the others to make it worth coming back.

Steve Ogden

PS why don't people put their real names to their comments?

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Jim Lad
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 04:03 PM

Didn't think that was implied, Tim but like Sharmagne, I forget that others don't know her.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: GUEST,RTim.at another address
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 03:58 PM

Loreena McKennitt is Canadian NOT American!

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Jim Lad
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 03:33 PM

The Balfa Toujours and the Lost Bayou Ramblers rock. Nice find.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Scoville
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 03:15 PM

Mario Matteoli from Northern California/Austin, Texas, is still figuring himself out but shows some promise.

Lloyd Wright plays dulcimer and a lot of other instruments.

And we are completely hooked on Balfa Toujours and the Lost Bayou Ramblers. I think the only thing stopping my mother from going native Cajun is the fact that she doesn't like crawfish.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: mick p r.m s.c
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 03:01 PM

Hello to all. Anyone heard of a Shropshire duo,The Badgers or as they are now known,Niall and Quinn. I saw them last night "Fri" at the Royal Albion in Walton on the Naze Essex. WOW! what talent,I am still gobsmacked. Keep an eye open for them.

                        Cheers Mick.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 02:32 PM

If we may extend the original question to bands, I have found very few people in the UK who ever heard of Felpeyu, an Asturias celtic group. Magical stuff, buy their last album "Ya!" and you won't regret it, even if you don't like the genre. Famous at home as well as in places like Australia, but virtually unheard of here. Unfortunately last July two of their members (incl their frontman) were killed in a car accident, so "Ya!" may well be their last work... But it is definitely one of my desert island disks.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 02:25 PM

Terry Yarnell
- best living ballad singer as far as I'm concerned
jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 02:19 PM

Funny how artists can be better known in countries other than their own...Loreena McKennitt is certainly well-known in England, and even in Greece (that's where I first heard her version of the Highwayman, before I ever heard Andy Irvine's, and fell in love with it).

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Jim Lad
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:59 PM

Sharon Burch
Sheena Wellington
Loreena McKennitt

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: GUEST,Sharmagne
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:31 PM

Grrrrrr.. AOL keeps timing out. I have written this three times now! You'd think I'd learn! LOL!

Okay once again...

Walela, the Cherokee word for Hummingbird is the symbol of inspiration for this family of women singers. They are Rita Coolidge, her sister Priscilla Coolidge, and her niece Laura Satterfield. Rita had an ill fated marriage to Kris Kristofferson in the late 60s early 70s. They have 2 CDs, the second is "Unbearable Love" and has two wonderful songs, "Cherokee Rose" and "When Love Was All We Knew" the former is a great sing along song because of the chorus. And the latter a sweet nostalgic song of childhood memories. Laura performs solo as well. One of the best cuts on the Walela cd is "Amazing Grace" sung in Cherokee (Tsalagi) The first CD is the type of music you listen to once and then want to give a copy as a gift to everyone you know! They might also have an "In Concert"CD.

If we are listing Native American folk singers one should not over look Sharon Burch who sings in both English and Navajo (Diné) her music expresses the simplicity and innocence of childhood and the importance of the realtionship between mother and child in the Diné tradition

And again, Joanne Shenandoah (Iroquois) is a must for this list. "Matriarch" is probably her best CD. There are too many to list.

Loreena McKennitt is not as well known as she should be in America. She has a few cds. IMHO her best songs are "The Lady of Shallott",( a wonderfully long ballad) "The Bonny Swans" (reminiscent of the Child Ballads) "Dark Night of the Soul" (a poem written by the mystic St. John of the Cross ~ a love song to his God, but could be from any lovelorn man to his lady love), and her bone chilling rendition of "Greensleeves."

What about Sheena Wellington?

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Jim Lad
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:22 PM

Bee: There are many, many talented folks in the Maritimes whom you won't find so active in the East Coast Music scene. One or two promoters have things pretty well tied up there but you will find many of them out there plying their trade and they're worth a second listen.
Lots of names I've never heard of here. When I get a chance, I'll link a bunch of them for you. In the meantime, if any of you could do the blue clicky thing with your submissions, I'd really appreciate it.
Good thread, Avrosimones.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Bee
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 12:01 PM

Meself, I think you are right. He gets attention (Dan MacKinnon) in his own small community, but he's not around (playing) that often. On the East Coast music scene, he's not much seen. Frankly, he's 'not my type', although a good singer, his chosen songs have not moved me, although that's unfair because I haven't heard him recently. He seems to have avoided, rather than participated in, the local music milieu.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 11:22 AM

Hello Boarders,

I didn't actually introduce myself before on the Hedge and Donna thread.

I live in Southern California and Washington. I grew up on Folk music and lived the folk scene...

My list would have to include Iris DeMent. Iris recorded her first CD "Infamous Angel" on Rounder Records. My three favourite songs on that CD are "These Hills", "When Love Was Young", and "Our Town". the latter I heard on the car radio, (KPFK) liked it so much I called McCabe's Guitar shop and bought the last remaining ticket to her show that night. She switched over to Warner Brother's recorded two more CDs that I know about and slipped into obscurity. those CDs are The Way I Should and My Life.

The next time I saw her was at the Wilton, and old theatre in L.A. She opened for Nancy Griffith who is someone else to watch for. Nancy is not necessarily a "little known" folkie but is not as well known as she should be for how good she is. My favourite CD of Nancy's is "One Fair Summer Evening". It features the Bill Staines song Roseville Fair.

There's another name Bill Staines. I believe Emmy Lou Harris also records his songs. The CDs I have of Nancy are "Other Voices Other Rooms", "Other Voices Too""Storms" "Late NIght Grand Hotel""Flyer" "The MCA Years~ A Retrospective"

Dar Williams is worth a mention. She is a protegé of Joan Baez.I have one of her CDs on my iTunes.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Bernard
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 10:15 AM

Or not, as the case may be...

Getting on to the festival circuit is as difficult as getting gigs in clubs...

I've been waiting 35 years to be an overnight success - but I did my first three festivals two years ago!

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 10:03 AM

I would believe there are alot of unknown folk singers who start at the small festivals and then get well known in the world of Towersey and the other big festivals and become famous.




Scooby

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: saulgoldie
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 09:57 AM

Karen Goldberg from Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Great voice, intelligent lyrics, clean playing. The whole package. If she were better managed, I think she would be a household name among accoustic music fans.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 08:32 AM

I think maybe Dan MacKinnon is better known in the UK than on his own home turf. I don't think he gets a great deal of recognition on his home turf; at least, I rarely see or hear his name mentioned, and I'm just down the road, so to speak. Any Canuckistahnians beg to differ?

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Bernard
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 08:30 AM

'Little known' is, as a few have commented, somewhat dependent upon where you are and where you look...

Here's a list of some of the people who I believe should be more prominent than they are...

Pete Castle
Andy Clarke
Chris Foster
Dave Burland
Roy Clinging
Mark Dowding
Dai Thomas
Wench All (a trio of women)

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 08:20 AM

Ron Taylor.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Bee
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 08:14 AM

George P., yep, I do know of Dan MacKinnon - his parents introduced me to his music years ago at a craft fair.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: GUEST,John Robinson
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 08:13 AM

The Arctic Monkeys
The Streets

Well known, but not generally recognised as contemporary folk of the real kind.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 08:08 AM

Jon Loomes (or is he well known by now? He was booked at Broadstairs last year.) Interesting voice, nice "English altered tunings" guitar work, multi-instrumental, gift for spotting interesting and less known traditional songs (or surreptitiously doing a Niles on us, which I wouldn't put past him as he has an evil, evil sense of humour - you should hear the one about tuning the hurdy gurdy: "it's 120 years old and takes 2 hours to tune, two Martin Carthys!" Boom Boom!)

Tori Lang, booked at Miskin last year, so well known to some, about the age of my daughter, unaccompanied singer again of mostly traditional material, very strong conveyor of the sense of a song, made me cry three times in 15 minutes (but I was sloppy drunk by that stage).

Oh, and I nearly forgot, Davy Romsey (or is it Rumsey) used to resident at whatever the Maidstone club was called at the time. Very powerful voice, altered guitar tunings, often played as rhythmic chords, lot of traditional stuff but some contemporary too. Seems to have vanished AFAIK.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 08:04 AM

The 'unknown to whom?' point is vital - I was somewhat traumatised one Sunday morning when, on his Radio 2 programme, Michael Parkinson's response to a reference to Martin Carthy by one of his guests was 'Never heard of him' and seem rather bemused by the guest's enthusiasm for this 'unknown' folk singer.

On the other hand, I do know about Lennie Gallant and his 'Nelly J. Banks' is in my repertoire.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 08:04 AM

Pillowfish, yes. The marvellous Helen Bell (ex Ola) with Tom Drinkwater.
Their CD Common Knowledge is excellent.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: avrosimones
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 08:00 AM

Bonnie, I said 'my list'. But thanks for pointing it out.

I'll be sure to check out some of the names above. It's always nice to hear of some new names, so I can keep an eye out!

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 07:56 AM

>I've noticed it's all Brits

Noel Shine & Mary Greene are Irish -

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 07:50 AM

Dan Mckinnon is FAB -but surely well known? what a voice! Local to us is a girl called anne shannon from Scarborouh and the excellent Pillowfish- wonderful songwriters and great musicians who are geting better known. But frankly one of our club members Mike Sweeney who is possibly one of the best talents around , you won't of heard of him, he is an amateur but truly amazing.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: avrosimones
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 07:47 AM

Hi there,

Thanks for the responses. I agree, the thread title is a bit vague.

What I meant was singers that are perhaps known in a certain region, but not to the folk community as a whole.

For example, I assume everyone knows about Martin Carthy & Family, Nic Jones, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Seth Lakeman & the rest that are often spoken about here and on the BBC messageboard (and folk awards!).

What I'm keen to find out about are singers/players that have yet to reach that level of success/recognition. It could be people that are playing 'the circuit' already, or people mainly who play in one area...

Looking at my list above, I've noticed it's all Brits, but good recommendations from elsewhere would be more than welcomed.

Hope that helps...

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 07:32 AM

East Coast Canada - then you should know Dan McKinnon from Halifax, though of course he is pretty well-known over here (UK) anyway

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Bee
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 07:27 AM

This is an interesting thread for me - honestly, I only have recognized one or two names, but if I go music shopping, it would be nice to have seen a recommendation here. I pretty much only know the music of well-known international singers, or East Coast Canada singers. I'll throw Lennie Gallant, singer-songwriter, out for you - well known award winner here, maybe not so much in the UK-US.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 07:24 AM

Oh, I don't listen, George, Just read the playlist.
Once in a while, he plays a gem. Probably by accident.
It is not, on the whole, the place to listen out for 'little known' artists.
Andy Kershaw and Late Junction on R3 are infinitely better.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 07:17 AM

That's the one, countess! I confess stopped listening to MH about a year ago - let's not go there - but haven't seen her name on any bills in the UK, so assume she is little known over here.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 07:04 AM

Elisabeth Laprelle?
She's been on MIke Harding, y'know . . .

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 06:54 AM

Ah, and what't the name of that young girl that sings Appalachian songs that I saw 2 years ago at the Getaway? She sings with her mum sometimes, but the young girl's voice is heavenly - and she is totally unknown in the UK. Le-something was her surname.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: kendall
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 06:31 AM

Our own Kat Logan, She sings like an angel.

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Surreysinger
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 06:18 AM

Oh, and BTW, sorry George, but I have to agree with the Countess re the four singers you named... I'm due to go see at least one of them (Ian Giles) in his Oxford Waits incarnation in a couple of weeks' time. And I was listening to him singing Christmas songs on a rather nice carols CD at the relevant time of year. So I guess it just boils back down to the "little known to whom" question...

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Surreysinger
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 06:08 AM

But then Joe, Janet Russell is definitely _not_ little known!!! Or at least not in my book. I've got more than one of her recordings, and have seen her any number of times at festivals....

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:40 AM

The wags at the beginning of the thread had it right - many of us Mudcatters are little-known folksingers - and some of us are pretty good.
But if you want somebody who makes music for money, one of my favorites is Janet Russell, a young woman from Scotland with a wonderful voice.


-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Little known folksingers of today
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 04:57 AM

Noel Shine & Mary Greene

They're well-regarded on the Irish folk scene but I myself am too out of touch with the UK scene to know how many people there have heard of them. Great duo. Give them a listen if you come across them.