Where are today's killer singers?

Subject: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 06:01 PM

I've been having a rummage on the English Dance and Song myspace to which Diane Easby gives a link in the Jackie Oates album thread.

Where are today's killer singers of folksongs? Where is the successor to Peter Bellamy? Why is Ian Bruce not there (or maybe I have not looked far enough)? Where is the equivalent of our own Dave Bryant? Bugger tasteful, where are the people who hit the traditional songs like a steamhammer?

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 06:19 PM

...and that link was EDS, English Dance and Song - the magazine of EFDSS

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 06:28 PM

Richard, loads of them about.

By a ticket for a festival and go to the concerts. I have been lucky enough to do about eight festivals this year and seen and heard loads of good singers and musicians.

Records are not the same.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: treewind
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 06:36 PM

Try Muldoon's Picnic if you like loud and raucous.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 06:50 PM

Successor to Peter Bellamy? Maybe Jon Boden. Maybe Damien Barber. Neither are to everyone's taste, nor particularly "tasteful", but they are addictive - just like Peter himself.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 06:54 PM

I should add that the EDS Myspace is shortly to be updated - the new issue is out imminently.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: michaelr
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 07:15 PM

My favorite male folk voice these days is Scotsman Jim Malcolm, formerly of Old Blind Dogs.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 09:03 PM

"Where are today's killer singers?"

In Jail, I hope...


:-P

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 10:03 PM

Jon Brindley is pretty damn good.

D.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Johnhenry'shammer
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 11:35 PM

Glen Hansard of The Frames.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 02:17 AM

Been to the Muldoon's Picnic site and myspace.

Anyone got myspaces for the others?

I have liked some Ramskyte - the earlier agricultural stuff - but lately they seem to have got too ecclesiastical for me.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 03:41 AM

"(You being a lawyer an' all, how are you on victimisation?)"

why don't you ask the legal team at the BBC, Lizzie? After all, you're banned from contacting the website or any of the Beeb's employees because of harrassment...

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 03:47 AM

Richard

Ramskyte are no more, of course, since the passing of Brian. Pete and John are still singing together as Wholehearted.

Wholehearted


Kitty

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: mattkeen
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 04:50 AM

I really like Tim van Eyken's voice

plus
Jim Causley

Rachel and Becky Unthank

Jackie Oates

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Santa
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 05:03 AM

Ah, where are the snows of yesteryear?

I was just thinking along similar lines at Fylde, but about the latest generation of female singers. A decade or so ago we could hear Kate and Katherine and Eliza and Jane and, oh, others whose names escape me at the moment.....some of whom are still with us, some more and some less successful.

The current Big New Name is Rachel Unthank - nice lass, I enjoy seeing and hearing her but not I think with the same magic in the voice? I seem to be in a minority, but does the Winterset really stand out from Uiscedwr, Isambarde or Devil's Interval (for example) as much as the reviews would have us believe?

Am I missing something, or has grumpiness really set in? Or is it just a slight lull before one or more of the ones above catch fire?

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: mattkeen
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 05:13 AM

Uicedwr really leave me cold I'm afraid - especially on the singing front

Of the others you mention I would say that, to me, Rachel and also the Devils Interval really do stand out


Nancy Kerr also

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 05:30 AM

Try "Crucible" from Sheffield

Ray

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 06:02 AM

Santa, Lisa Knapp is quite a compelling performer. She sings with incredible power and passion. Having seen her a number of times now, I find it really interesting that the full power of her live performance is slightly lost on her CD, Wild and Undaunted. Maybe it's a difficult quality to capture.

The CD is still very good, don't get me wrong - but I think you need to see her live to see why she's extraordinary. In any case, I'd nominate her as one to follow on from the Elizas and Nancys...thoguh I think she's actually around the same age as them! But her profile is relatively recent.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: treewind
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:46 AM

Well, if nothing else this thread has taught me that Ruth Archer has a MySpace page.

A silver lining.
(and a friend request waiting...)
Anahata

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: GUEST,Charlotte the oast ouse opper
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:56 AM

I would definitely agree that Damien Barber has an awesome voice, as does Bryony Griffith, and Jon Boden...

Jim Causley and my mate Jackie Oates (he he!) are also well worth a listen to...

why do all the threads i log on to seem to deteriorate into rubbish muck flinging vileness?

I am young, and therefore the most likely to be causing trouble, yet still i manage to behave myself!

sort it out you lot and keep on topic!

xx

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:56 AM

There you go Ruth - upsetting Lizzie again.

Lizzie I thought you had left and gone to Canada - are you posting from Canada? What's the weather like over there?

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 09:13 AM

Can I just point out that to be banned from lizzie's myspace page, I'd actually have to want to go there. I don't.

The quote on our festival website is actually lifted from Jim Causley's own website: he calls Mawkin Causley "one hell of a boyband". I thought it was funny, so I nicked it. Is that some kind of problem? If so, maybe you should talk to Jim...

Re all the rest of your bilge: I really can't be arsed to respond. Though if you keep pushing me and trying to bring my festival into disrepute, one day I will pay you in kind and reveal everything I know about you, Lisa. It ain't pretty. I've been quite restrained so far. Let's leave it there.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 09:14 AM

Well Lizzie (who says "Ask Ruth") is banned from the BBC F and A Message board and is not allowed to post on Mudcat. She tries to get around this by posting under a variety of names.

Nevertheless she insists on coming on here for some reason. A message board she has told us personally she will leave on a number of occasions.

Then ask yourself whom is to blame.

Otherwise welcome and pleased to meet you across the ether.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 09:23 AM

And the problem is that Charlotte that Lizzie posts on here get zapped by the moderators - then ours look a bit daft. It'll go quiet again now.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: HouseCat
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 09:28 AM

The houses are definitely divided over Unthank and the Winterset. Folks seem to love them or not. I myself am working through it - not wild about them but trying to at least give them a fair listen.
Michaelr, agree about Jim Malcolm - we're hosting him next month **dances** and can't wait.
If you like Scots singing, Sylvia Barnes is a powerhouse. Her new release "The Color of Amber" is a wonder.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 09:54 AM

Does anyone else hear something ever-so-slightly Lal Waterson in the Unthanks?

Maybe it's me...

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 10:07 AM

"Where are today's killer singers?"

Well, they certainly weren't in Borders' Stockport branch the other day when they were playing a certain 'Girl Wonder from Yorkshire' CD over the PA system. I had to keep banging my head against the bookcases in order to stop myself lapsing into a coma ...

Hang on! If I'd died would she have counted as a "killer singer"?

I'm confused now - perhaps I shouldn't have started this contribution ... but what the hell!

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 10:26 AM

well theres.....

Machine Gun Carthy
Osama Vin Garbutt
both deadly in their own way!

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Colin Randall
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 10:26 AM

First thoughts: Bob Fox and James Keelaghan do it for me. Eileen Pratt, of whom I have heard little in ages, had an absolutely awesome voice, especially striking live And I think Eliza Carthy at her best is hard to beat.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: HouseCat
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 10:38 AM

Ruth, somebody had mentioned that on Footstompin's forum yesterday and after reading that, I could hear Lal in Rachel's voice too.
I love Emily Smith's voice. Forgot to mention her earlier.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 10:47 AM

That's interesting! I was listening to the CD the other night and it just popped into my head.

Mind you, Lal's daughter (Mairi?) makes a pretty good job of sounding like her mum...would be nice to see more of her.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Colin Randall
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 11:21 AM

I didn't think to include Rachel Unthank in my own list; it took me a while to enjoy the album - my first reaction was to wonder was the fuss was about but I ended up hooked because she sings with so much character and fire (I'd love to know what accent - estuary English, plummy Oxbridge? - graces the lips of that Mudcat contributor who said recently that Geordies necessarily sound stupid).

And I didn't think to include Vin Garbutt because I have probably already caused enough trouble here with my defence of him, but I agree he has a remarkable voice. I didn't think that when he started out but that was a lifetime ago and his delivery, admittedly an acquired taste, just got better and better over the years.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: andrewq
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 11:22 AM

Ruth Archer:

"Mind you, Lal's daughter (Mairi?) makes a pretty good job of sounding like her mum...would be nice to see more of her."

Marie's in the line-up of Blue Murder (replacing Eliza?) for the forthcoming tour - Bury Met, 29th Nov.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Santa
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 11:37 AM

Yes, I meant to mention Emily Smith. Great performances, but not the killer voice? That special something: not every song, perhaps not every performance, but when it happens you just close your eyes and listen...... Pat Ryan has it, and Maggie Boyle, and June Tabor. Perhaps Maddy Prior, and the young Kate Rusby. I've had many happy hours listening to plenty of perfectly excellent singers and performers who just don't hit that point. Add your own, to your taste, I guess.

Thanks for the hints on who to watch out for - keep them rolling in!

One side point from the Watersons comments above: at the Albert Hall concert I picked out one fine voice I couldn't at first place - I think it was Rachel. I didn't know her background with the group - does she sing any more nowadays or was that a one-off?

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 12:18 PM

To my mind the best singers are to be found (anonymous, unsigned and unnoticed) in dirty public-house back-rooms throughout the country where the empirical wonderment of a song, traditional or otherwise, might come alive in way it can never do on stage or CD. I'm not sure who first said that the true defination of Folk Song was to be found primarily in the triumph of context over content, but it's something that certainly rings true in these days of near absolute commodification & commercialism.

Here's a few of my personal favourites, killer voices all: Kath Tyler (hardly unnoticed given her sterling work with Cordelia's Dad and husband Phil but Cath's presence in many a North-East singaround is a treat to be savoured), Piers (don't know his second name but he's one of the finest voices on Tyneside; his rendering of The Cuckoos Next is var-nigh definitive); Ian McCulloch (gaffa of the Durham City Folk Club with a repertoire of choice chestnuts that come alive in his glorious tenor) ; Frank Williamson (also of the Durham City club - you want a killer singer, then listen to Frank singing Stanley Market) ; Robin Dale (best known for his close association with Graham Miles whose songs he sings to perfection; a fine singer of traditional songs too, and more, especially the Ballina Whalers at The Colpitts, Durham, circa 1990...) ; Ron Baxter (cherished the folk world as one of the Fylde's redoubtable MCs, but a supremely gifted song-writer, artist, storyteller and singer in his own right - his chilling renderings of Danny Deever & Seven Yellow Gypsies are the very essence of what I love most about this music - the pure drop); Derek Brinkley (an authority on British Song & Balladry and a beguilingly authentic performer besides).

I could go on (and on); there are thousands (or more) of such singers, passionately keeping the revival going with little or no reward bar the pure love of doing it, which, at its most fundamental, is what it's all about really.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 12:31 PM

Rosie Stewart.from Dick Miles

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 12:53 PM

From what I understand from the sleevenotes, Becky Unthank sings as many songs as Rachel does, if not more, on their albums. Their voices are different although there are similarities.

I agree that there is a definite Lal Waterson sound to the Unthank sisters - but which one? Or both?

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 12:56 PM

I think it's Rachel.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Mr Red
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 01:21 PM

I'll tell you where the killer singers are.
behind a microphone and 10kW amplifiers.
Killing peoples' hearing.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: LesB
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 02:26 PM

While we are bandying names about, I was very impressed at Whitby by Emily & Hazel Askew. There was this wee little lass, dwarfed by her melodeon, about to sing & I though, here we go again a breathy, squeeky, fay, little girl voice ala Cara Dillon et al, but no! This incredibly powerfull voice blew me away. Give em a listen. Askew Sisters website

Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Cats
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 02:53 PM

I could listen to Steve Thomason and Jim McAdams for ever and a day. Stunning voices that make the hairs on the back of your head stand up.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 04:59 PM

having a cup of tea with Daniel O Donnell.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 06:12 PM

I'm glad this thread is turning our constructive.

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 06:17 PM

I'm with Cats, but I'd add Alan Prior.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 07:32 PM

'Multiple Murderer' Mike Waterson
'Bernard the Bastard' Wrigley
Derek 'acid bath' Brimstone
'Slasher' Sean Lakeman
'Ralph tne Merciless' Mctell

how can they tell us they are lonely?

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Genie
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 11:48 PM

Harvey Andrews, perhaps?

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: mattkeen
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 05:28 AM

Not new but...

I think Chris Wood has a fantastic voice

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Banjiman
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 10:38 AM

Killer Singer?

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 12:14 PM

how can they tell us they are lonely?

And that for them the sun don't shine......

Subject: RE: Where are today's killer singers?
From: Severn
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 01:19 PM

"THE Killer", Jerry Lee Lewis is still alive, but some of his wives aren't.

Of course, you'd have to go pretty far to outdo the late Spade Cooley!