Martin Simpson on Scots talent and onomatopoeia
MartinÌýSimpson writes:
It is of course currently the other season to be festive, and I've been at several festivals already. was particularly enjoyable...
It was my first trip there and I was really fascinated by the place. Its history is so visible, and so celebrated. My father used to tell me stories of his time stationed there, and it was a pleasure to see some of the places he talked of.
Musically it was great, the wealth of young Scots talent is jaw-dropping, and the sheer strength of the tradition is inspiring. I really enjoyed the current holders of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 2 Young Folk Award, Siobhan Miller and Jeana Leslie, excellent singers and players totally immersed in their material.
Karine Polwart in all of her incarnations is splendid. On the flight back to Edinboro' we were wrestling with the definition of 'bucolic', which required later consultation with the dictionary. Karine has issued a challenge to see who might best elegantly include it in a song. I love a word which is far from onomatopoetic, 'crepuscular' springs to mind, it sounds like the work of a superbug.
I also heard today for the first time in a couple of years. Beautiful singer, great player, and too often overlooked.
Martin Simpson
Comment number 1.
At 21st Jul 2008, paul_Boro wrote:Hi Martin and all at ´óÏó´«Ã½ radio 2
I've been checking out and listening to all the artists at the folk/acoustic site and its clear that the standard of music is awesome. Much more than that the songwriting and musical performances are excellent. I've been listening to Karine Polwart, just excellent. I'm also a big fan of Becky Owen who is a friend and local to me here in the north East.
I play myself and I'm flattered that many people like my music. I must admit that the whole folk scene is new to me as I always described myself as an acoustic player and really more of a singer than a player.
However, I've been told by Folkies that I'm a contemporary folk artist so here I am. I'm playing Stockton festival this year and it would be great if any folk fans would check out my songs and give me a review.
Just please don't give me one of those horrible savage crits! Be gentle.
Thanks again and I'll sure to be listening in and learning al about my new 'scene'
Paul Carney
www.myspace.com/paulcarneymusic
www.paulcarneymusic.com
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Comment number 2.
At 24th Jul 2008, DeadLikeHarry wrote:I spent last weekend at Ely Festival with my band Dead Like Harry. We got the chance to watch the whole weekend as we played on both days, and I have to admit it was my first folk festival and I loved the whole thing. The atmosphere was so friendly compared to many festivals we have played at. The highlight was Show of Hands on the Saturday night - a mix of traditional songs and original material all done in their own rocked up (acoustic) folk way. The weekend before we spent at Cornbury where we played on the Riverside Stage. Paul Simon was the highlight of that - a beautifully understated 'Sounds of Silence' played to 15,000 fans at a festival was incredible. Off to play Green Man Fayre and Beached Festivals soon, looking forward to the chance to watch more beautiful music. Not really sure that you could in any way describe Beached as 'folk', but the genre is creeping back, slowly but surely, into the general public conscience and into much pop and rock now, which I think's great.
www.deadlikeharry.co.uk
www.myspace.com/deadlikeharrymusic
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