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...she played fiddle and sang beautifully and I thought she was superb. I didn't hear much about her after that until she released her debut album Night Visiting last year and I was immediately taken with the opening track, Three Black Feathers, which went on to be nominated for the Best Original Song at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Folk Awards earlier this year. Here to tell you about the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Proms Folk DayÌýis an artist with a terrific debut under her belt and her sights set high...

Bella Hardy writes:

I

t's Sunday 20 JulyÌýand I'm sat backstage at the Royal Albert Hall with a glass of champagne.Ìý There's a sentence I'd never have imagined writing.

It's a real privilege to be playing alongside such a set of musicians.Ìý This afternoon was a brilliant experience; I'd been asked to learn three songs I hadn't really known before, and sing them in between the classical pieces they inspired.Ìý I love singing unaccompanied, and I was on an arena stage right in the middle of the hall where the sound seems to encompass you.Ìý Amazing!Ìý 's composition 'Confluence', and the Newcastle based under 19's group '' were an afternoon highlight for me, bringing an energy and commitment to folk music and traditional tunes that did the music I love proud.Ìý I was lucky enough to be joined for my spot this evening by Ìýon concertina and Ìýon harp, and Martin Simpson has just been on leaving the audience in jaw dropped awe.Ìý I'm typing as fast as possible to get upstairs for a boogie to Bellowhead!

When the Folk Prom idea was first pitched, I think it was to fill the slot of "something a bit different at the proms" day; last year there was a one off brass special, and this year was the turn of folk.Ìý But from the enthusiasm of all involved, I've high hopes for something more regular, hopefully with a bigger range of British acts (the line up is, it has to be said, very English for a titled British day).Ìý In fact, Roger Wright, Proms Director, just popped into the dressing room to congratulate us all on kicking off "...the start of a folk proms tradition..."Ìý

I'll be reminding him of that should we meet again.

Bella *Ìý

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