JON BODEN & THE REMNANT KINGS Rose In June Hudson Records HUD016CD
The charismatic former Bellowhead singer returns with his fourth solo record which, unlike previous releases Songs From The Floodplain and Afterglow, isn’t a post-apocalyptic concept album but a collection of (predominantly) traditional songs and tunes. Three years of major festival appearances have honed his ten-strong Remnant Kings into a formidably diverse ensemble that deploys traditional folk instruments like concertina and fiddle alongside the rock hardware of electric guitars, bass and drums and classical exotica including flugelhorn, euphonium and cor anglais.
Whilst there’s no overarching storyline across the twelve tracks, it’s clear from the epic opening title track that Boden’s penchant for high drama remains undimmed. One of his particular strengths is his ability, as both a performer and an arranger, to render the familiar in new and sometimes challenging ways. The luminous orchestration of Seven Bonnie Gypsies (a version of which is seemingly still a compulsory component of any self-respecting folk record) provides an album highlight, while Rigs of the Time, with its understated, yet attention-grabbing pizzicato introduction, is theatrical in all the right ways.
The album’s two cover versions - Ewan MacColl’s Sweet Thames Flow Softly and Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love are sequenced consecutively in the middle of proceedings. The former sounds (unsurprisingly) nothing like Planxty, and the latter (thankfully) much better than The Futureheads. Going Down To The Wasteland and We Do What We Can showcase Boden’s songwriting talent while the aptly-titled Leviathan and Ruin Reel (which, on first hearing, evoked Genesis circa Wind & Wuthering!) prove the band’s collective deftness with a tune set.
Created in collaboration with the virtuosic Remnant Kings and long-time ally and producer Andy Bell, Rose In June is an album of complex, dynamic, and undeniably exciting music that will delight Jon Boden’s legion of fans.
Jon Boden Guitars, Fiddle, Concertina, Vocals
Helen Bell Viola
Toni Durrant Euphonium
Harriet Davies Violin
Sam Fisher Flugel, Trumpet
Rob Harbron Concertina, Fiddle, Electric Guitar, Vocals
Ben Nicholls Double & Electric Bass, Concertina
Lucy Revis Cello
Paul Sartin Oboe, Cor Anglais, Fiddle, Vocals
Sam Sweeney Drums, Fiddle, Concertina, Vocals
Richard Warren Electric Guitar
Andy Bell Producer, Engineer
Jon Boden is on tour in the UK in November
THE SERVANTS’ BALL The Servants’ Ball D. Wink Recordings DWINK CD13
Remnant Kings Rob Harbron (concertina) and Ben Nicholls (upright bass) feature as two members of Servants’Ball - an intriguing new project also involving step-dancer and banjolele player Ewan Wardrop, fiddler extraordinaire Ben Paley and pianist Julian Hinton.
The idea for The Servants’ Ball came from Ben Nicholls who, whilst reading a biography of the Sussex concertina player Scan Tester, discovered the set list of a village hall dance band from the early 1930s. Following a period of reheard at The Museum Of English Rural Life in Reading, the group was able to recreate what Nicholls describes as :“this forgotten music…” “a cultural scrapbook of British history…” and: “a true melting pot.”
Any fears that this might prove to be some worthy-yet-dreary academic exercise are dispelled the moment the first track starts. This is, unequivocally, music made for the purposes of letting down your hair on a Saturday night and having a damn good time. The repertoire is truly varied - ranging from fashionable dances of the day like polkas, quadrilles and cotillions, through music hall songs including Champagne Charlie and The Bird On Nelly’s Hat, to yer actual folk music in Number One Step Dance and the era’s fascination with Egyptology, which manifests in Egyptian Princess and Egyptian Ballet.
Listeners d'une certaine age might find themselves fondly recalling the likes of Flowers & Frolics and The Temperance Seven, but The Servants’ Ball stands as something truly unique in English folk circles. Played (and sung and danced) with irresistible verve and obvious relish by a group of consummate performers, this album is a joy from beginning to end.
http://www.facebook.com/theservantsball
BBC RADIO 2 FOLK AWARDS 2019
The 20th annual BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards took place in Manchester on 16th October
Congratulations to all the winners.
Folk Singer of the Year Ríoghnach Connolly
Best Duo/Group Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita
Horizon Award Brìghde Chaimbeul
Best Traditional Track The Foggy Dew by Ye Vagabonds
Best Original Track I Burn But I Am Not Consumed by Karine Polwart
Best Album Hide and Hair by The Trials Of Cato
Musician of the Year Seckou Keita
BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Maddie Morris
Lifetime Achievement Awards Dervish, Wizz Jones
Radio 2 Folk Awards Hall of Fame Leonard Cohen
Listen here https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009ch3
FESTIVALS
LOWENDER PERAN 30th October – 3rd November
Celtic music and dance festival in Newquay, Cornwall
Gwenno
Project Smok
VRï
Jerry O'Reilly & Rosie Davis
Ny Fennee
Tickets https://www.lowenderperan.co.uk
WALTHAMSTOW FOLK FESTIVAL 2nd November
A one day festival of folk music from England, Scotland, Ireland and the USA, curated by Tim Chipping of River Lea Records set in the atmospheric surroundings of Walthamstow's ancient church.
Sam Amidon
Emily Portman
Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne
Burd Ellen
Rock Of Eye
Katie Spencer
Boss Morris
Paddi Benson & Grace Lemon
Tickets https://www.musichalls.org/events/2019-11-02-walthamstow-folk-festival-st-marys-music-hall