Alleycast for December

December 12, 2006

December's Alleycast is now ready for download. On this month's episode, we feature segments from four exclusive concerts recorded at the 2006 Wildflower Festival--including Ruthie Foster, Albert & Gage, Sarah Hickman, and Slaid Cleaves. We also showcase four songs from the Open Mic section of the web site including Psychopath, WIVES&servants, Anna Hutto and Ellis. Also, we'll hear a portion from Folk Alley's Nanci Grifiith interview and the obscure sounds of Fern Knight.

English duo Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick release first album together in 14 years!

December 6, 2006

The legendary English duo of Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick return with their newest collaboration—the first studio album from the duo in fourteen years called “Straws in the Wind” from Topic Records.

All their old skills are demonstrated with a new collection of traditional songs and instrumentals. Their experienced approach to their art lacks none of the fervor of their early days, and brings a maturity born of many years living with the music that is an integral part of their beings. Martin Carthy broke onto the emerging folk scene in the early 1960’s—influencing many like minded musicians with his intense and rhythmic style of guitar playing along with completely original adaptations of English folk songs. David Swarbrick may be known as one of the finest English fiddlers of all time. During the 1960’s heyday, Swarb was the hot new firebrand fiddler with the popular Ian Campbell Folk Group. Together, Carthy and Swarb recorded numerous albums during this time which have become classics in the English folk genre. At the suggestion of producer Joe Boyd, Swarbrick joined folk-rock pioneers Fairport Convention to complete the all too important “Liege and Lief” record in 1969. Dave was a Fairport mainstay for close to ten years. Martin Carthy decided to get electric too as he joined Steeleye Span—one of the most poplar bands in the English folk-rock category. Carthy has been a hero to the English folk genre and has twice won the Folk Singer of the Year award by the BBC. Carthy and Swarbrick came together again in the early 1990’s with two albums “Life & Limb” and “Skin & Bone.” There followed a period of ill health for Swarbrick with a celebrated moment in 1999 when the Daily Telegraph ran a very premature obituary while Dave was ill in the hospital. With his usual good humor, Dave retorted, “It’s not the first time I have died in Coventry.” Luckily, Swarb made a full recovery and is back in the music which is an integral part of his life, re-joining with Carthy to record an album and tour extensively to support it. The new record “Straws in the Wind” brings Carthy and Swarbrick together again after fourteen years apart and shows no lack of creativity, power, and enlightened arrangements which made them both such legendary musicians.

Making a list & checking it twice

December 1, 2006

Hey Folk Alley Cats and Kittens

I wanted to find out what music y'all are giving for Christmas this year and. . . what recordings are you hoping to find in your stockings? I just heard a translated, yodeled version of Little Drummer Boy on one of the Swiss radio stations and it shot me straight into holiday mode (how could it not?)! I hope it's a joyous and peaceful time for all of you!