No Place Like Home - Martha L Healy

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘No Place Like Home’ - Martha L Healy

WIth a brand new Nashville recorded album ‘Keep The Flame Alight’ due for release on October 5th via Frogeye Records, our LCM featured artist today is Glasgow based singer-songwriter Martha L Healy. Although the new album was recorded in Nashville, it retains a strong sense of Martha's Celtic heritage. We love Martha’s album opener ‘No Place Like Home’, a an ode to home and Scotland and a reflection on how the place we come from can frustrate, but ultimately inspires us.

Martha comments “I started to write this before I left for a “life sabbatical” in Nashville in 2016. Scotland and me had reached a point in our relationship where I had to leave and escape for a while. I also knew I couldn’t stay in Nashville for ever…As I wrote the next verse, in Nashville, I was still intent on easing the blow of my return to Scotland and I also found myself writing lyrics about the things that I both love and hate about my homeland: the rain; the greyness; the cold wind but I also write about missing the warm fire and the fact that the people are ridiculously honest. The whole song is about feeling weary but also that feeling you get – wherever you’ve been in the world – when you get in your own front door and sit down in front of the fire.”

Through a mix of personal insight and story songs, Martha provides a fresh take on some classic themes – the need to leave somewhere to help find your place in the world, the ache of an unfulfilled love, the complexity of family and friendships and the need to live your own dreams. She also explores how being a woman in the 21st century is not without its fair share of pressures and demands.

The majority of ‘Keep The Flame Alight’ was written in Nashville on Martha's 3-month life sabbatical in 2016. Following receipt of Creative Scotland funding, the album was recorded back there in October/November 2017, with David Spicher in the production chair and a host of fantastic Nashville session players.

Photo Credit: Kris Kasiak Photography

https://marthalhealy.com/

Big Blue Sky - Holly Redford Jones

Written by Holly Redford Jones Vocals and Guitar - Holly Redford Jones Bass Guitar - Hunter Mulkey Drums - Simon Knudtson BGVs - Hollie Hammel Organ - Athena Kulb Lead Guitar - Adam McPhail Grand Piano - Will Houchens Pedal Steel - Tyler Sutphen Mixing Engineer - Ben O'Neill Tracking Engineer - Chris Hickman Cover Art by Athena Kulb

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Big Blue Sky’ - Holly Redford Jones

Originally from Chesterfield, Holly Redford Jones is an indie folk artist possessed of a dry wit and deep, soulful voice. She released her debut single, ‘Big Blue Sky’ on the 24th of August, a track recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. We like this song a lot here at LCM HQ. The track is also getting a lot of support from BBC Introducing. Let us know what you think?

Vocals and Guitar - Holly Redford Jones, Bass Guitar - Hunter Mulkey, Drums - Simon Knudtson, BGVs - Hollie Hammel, Organ - Athena Kulb, Lead Guitar - Adam McPhail, Grand Piano - Will Houchens and Pedal Steel - Tyler Sutphen

https://hollyredfordjones.co.uk/

https://hollyredfordjones.bandcamp.com/releases

Wonderfully Made - Besides Daniel

Restful and simple, "Wonderfully Made" by Besides Daniel is an unveiling of the imposter in most all of us. With the whispers of "you're not enough," "cover your flaws," and "be someone else," the song blooms into the resolving refrain, "You are wonderfully made," as a disarming invitation into self-acceptance in a melodic exhale of relief. Acoustic video performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVNKqXhjxjI www.BesidesDaniel.com www.facebook.com/BesidesDaniel www.instagram.com/BesidesDaniel www.noisetrade.com/BesidesDaniel 'T E E M I N G' from Besides Daniel is a stripped away and subtle reflection on the adventure of putting roots in the ground, committing to love, healing through long-suffering, and the celebration of new life. This collection of songs humbly put into perspective the weight of life lessons, true friendship, the risks of marriage, and the triumph of a heart that has healed. Genres: Folk, Indie, Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic, Coffeehouse, Pop-Folk RIYL: Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, Wilder Adkins, Tyler Lyle, Iron And Wine, Milk Carton Kids, Death Cab for Cutie

LCM #SongOfTheDay - ‘Wonderfully Made’ - Besides Daniel

We take a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to meet our today’s featured artist Danny Brewer and his band collectively known as Besides Daniel. Danny has just released his latest EP ‘Teeming’ in late August and one of our favourite tracks is the reflective ‘Wonderfully Made’.

Besides Daniel is an independent eclectic folk band based around its front man and creative force Danny Brewer. Every great artistic talent stems from a great love, is cultivated by the intrigue of influence, and thrives on passion for human experience. Besides Daniel front man Danny Brewer’s immense talent is no exception. His poetic lyricism, natural-sounding acoustic riffs, and evocative voice combine to produce truly masterful melodies. Not only are his songs beautifully composed, but they also possess a deep emotion that is rarely seen with such clear precision from a musical artist. In other words, he has the ability to create music straight from the soul, with naked honesty.

http://besidesdaniel.virb.com/

Pomp and Swell - Annie Oakley

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Pomp & Swell’ - Annie Oakley

With a brand new album ‘Words We Mean’ set for release on the 12th October our featured band today are the award winning Oklahoma City-based indie folk and folk-rock trio Annie Oakley. We really like the beautiful first single ‘Pomp and Swell’. If you like the Wailling Jenny’s, you could like these ladies as well.

Big thanks to our friends at At The Helm PR in Brighton for the recommendation

In the works for three years, the album follows the all-girl band from youth to womanhood through songs with remarkable artistic range. Immaculate, perfectly-matched vocal harmonies and sharply observant lyrics embody themes of grief, recovery, wistful regrets, misplaced hopes, and new love in this much-anticipated release.

The award-winning band is fronted by twin sisters Sophia and Grace Babb on rhythm and lead guitars and vocals, with Nia Personette on violin and third-part harmony. Singing together since childhood, Sophia and Grace were given guitars and started songwriting at their mum’s urging after their father’s death compelled them to find an emotional outlet. They were 14 years old. A year later, they were joined by friend Nia on violin, herself no stranger to loss; she, too, had lost her father shortly before joining the band. Since the band’s formation, wise, emotive lyrics and sophisticated instrumentation have been hallmarks of their style.

Lyrics and music are written by these sisters who begin on their own, but afterward bring their work to each other for suggestions and to orchestrate instrumentation. “We tell stories that are quite personal,” says Sophia. “People who come out to hear us live will hear songs that cut to the bone because they come out of real-life events and relationships.” Examples are “Ghost” written by Sophia from the experience of living with a grief-stricken mother, and “Into the Light,” which Grace wrote about enduring love. “I felt an overwhelming sense of love for someone I’d only known for a short time,” Grace explained, “but I knew the feeling was potent. I wrote it one night while full of feelings, thinking about my parents and what they must have felt.”

The chemistry among this trio who have grown up together is tangible, their music an intimate invitation into an inner circle that makes live shows feel like a reunion of friends and family. “You’re hopefully going to leave having laughed a lot, been provoked more than once, and maybe having shed a tear or two,” Grace says.

Official showcase artists at SWRFA and Folk Alliance International in 2017, the trio tours on weekends and college breaks. University seniors who plan to tour full-time in 2019-20, Annie Oakley plays regularly to sold-out venues throughout the United States.

Photo Credit: Madi Jones

http://www.theannieoakley.com/index.html

Save My Life - John Smith

LCM #SongOfTheDay: Save My Life - John Smith

We have been big fans of this Devon based Americana & Folk singer-songwriter for a few years now. We love his guitar playing, super songwriting and rich vocals. Our featured song today ‘Save My Life,’ we think has hints of Van Morrison and Paolo Nutini. It’s taken from his latest album ‘Hearsay’. But we have some more exciting news :) John is releasing a great new album ‘Hummingbird’ on the 5th October, which is now available to pre-order from the link below.

If you would like to see John live he will be headlining at St. Pancras Old Church #London on 15th November as part of his UK and European album tour. A great night out in store in a perfect and intimate venue for his music.

Born in Essex, raised by the Devon seaside, and making his bones in the bars and clubs of Liverpool, John has released five albums with over 10 million Spotify streams. He has played to audiences all over the world in living rooms, festival tents and sold-out concert halls. He is a genuine folksinger, an inquisitive truth-seeker, devoted song interpreter and enchanting writer.

Steeped in the lineage of British folk, taking his cue from Richard Thompson and John Martyn, John has evolved a transatlantic blend of fingerstyle and slide guitar techniques. John’s intimate takes on love, loss and the journey we make, combined with his innovative guitar work, have won him a loyal following. His honey-on-gravel voice and mesmerizing fingerstyle guitar are undeniable. Sometimes using a slide, sometimes with guitar on his lap, sometimes detuning mid-song, John’s obsession with the instrument has made a master of him. Whether by way of album or concert, he leads the listener, enthralled in his presence, on a viscerally emotional journey.

https://www.johnsmithjohnsmith.com/

Drown - Megan Dixon Hood

LCM #SongOfTheDay: Drown - Megan Dixon Hood

We love this powerful new single and video from Cheshire based singer-songwriter Megan Dixon Hood. The song tells the mysterious story of a young maiden who disappears the night before her wedding day and is never seen again. The great new video was directed by Kai Ohio (Samsara Collective). Megan is joined on the song by Liam Morgan, Jake Greville and Jordan Cope. We loved Megan’s fantastic set when she played for us at the Green Note in May.

Also a shout out to Megan’s father Mel who painted the beautiful cover artwork for this single and to sister Ella for the wonderful main photo.

Megan Dixon Hood combines haunting melodies with ethereal lead vocals through her piano folk-infused songs, delivering atmospheric melodies that are creative yet heartfelt. With songs stepping into the darker side of her music, she is experimenting further with her band to create an enchanting and climatic sound.

http://www.megandixonhood.com/

Cerian - Wasteland ft. Robert Taira Wilson (Official video)

LCM #SongOfTheDay: We have something very special for you today. The exclusive first play of Cerian's new video for the excellent and beautiful 'Wasteland'.  

Wasteland is the much anticipated debut single by London-based singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Cerian. It is the first single to be released from Cerian’s upcoming EP Caught in the Dark - a series of songs written in the middle of the night. This debut single is the first of five songs to be released one at a time, which will result in the full EP in February 2019. The single has already garnered glowing reviews, and Cerian now releases the official video to accompany the song. 

A lifelong insomniac, Cerian is almost completely nocturnal, and these profoundly personal songs have grown out of her struggle with both the literal and internal darkness felt in the isolation of the early hours of the morning, when she would stay awake writing until dawn. Written just as she was trying to gain the confidence to share her own music with the world for the first time, Wasteland explores those feelings of loneliness and paralysing fear. Cerian explains: “In the dead of the night, terrifying existentialism takes over: seemingly frozen in time, you feel unable to traverse the space between where you are and where you want to be. The precipice of the unknown future is calling, but you don’t know if you’re going to fly or fall, if you can find the courage to jump.” 

It felt apt, therefore, to film the video for Wasteland at night. Shot and directed by film-maker Ioan Holland of Cumulo Media, filming was meticulously planned for the video to be shot in one-take with a series of timed smoke grenades. The smoke provides a constant wash of changing colours which gradually get revealed throughout the video. Starting in black and white, lines encroach on the screen to reveal the colour underneath, and these lines increase in number and intensity throughout the song until eventually at the emotional climax of the song, full colour is revealed. The lines also reveal a kaleidoscope effect underneath which reduces throughout the song, reflecting the sense of distortion evolving to clarity. Cerian explains, “We wanted the video to be a visual representation of the themes of the song - the journey from feeling lost and trapped in darkness and the search for freedom in light and colour. I’m joined in the video by Robert Taira Wilson, who also features on the song, and the evolution of the way we interact in the video charts human relationships and the notion that ultimately our journey through life is one we all have to take alone.” Shot during one night, the calm and entrancing smoke effect belies the frantic behind the scenes efforts it took to create this ethereal backdrop, which involved over 50 smoke grenades, several house fans and a dedicated crew standing just out of shot wafting the smoke with planks of wood and cardboard!

 Classically trained in harp, piano, and guitar, Cerian brings her varied skills together in atmospheric production, with Wasteland featuring entrancing soundscapes of dark ethereal indie folk pop which may be likened to London Grammar and Active Child. Recorded with collaborator Robert Taira Wilson, the single features Wilson’s intricate guitar playing and a soulful duet of Wilson and Cerian’s perfectly complemented voices dramatically building through rich layers of acoustic guitar and piano on top of epic orchestral drums, interwoven with dreamy eight-part choral backing. Twinkling harp is juxtaposed with its electronic manipulation to allow the instrument to be showcased in a uniquely dark pop setting.

Having just toured Europe, and with a series of shows planned in the UK and a tour of America this year, Cerian is set to continue seducing listeners with her heartfelt, honest and spellbinding music.

 DOWNLOAD / STREAM Wasteland here: http://smarturl.it/WastelandSingle

cerianmusic.com

"In its entirety 'Wasteland' is a breathtaking, emotive, punch to the gut. Cerian has that rare type of compelling vocal that effortlessly captures its listener's attention with its extraordinary range and purity. 'Wasteland' is a flawlessly executed track." (Karla Harris (When the Horn Blows))

“Absolutely wonderful.” (BBC Introducing)

"Voice of an angel." (Music Injection)

"Cerian has a long, long solo pop career ahead of her." (Comeherefloyd)

Botany Bay - Kelly Oliver

LCM #SongOfTheDay: The wonderful 'Botany Bay' the title track of multi-award winning Herfordshire based Kelly Oliver's forthcoming third album, which is due for release on the 28th September. Kelly is joined on the song by Toby Shaer (flutes, whistles, harmonium), Jamie Francis (banjo), Lukas Drinkwater (double bass) and Evan Carson (bodhran, percussion).

'Botany Bay' is a traditional English folk song. This version was collected in Hertfordshire and arranged by Kelly and producer Stu Hanna (Megson, Lucy Ward) The song tells the story of convicts that were banished from England and Ireland to Botany Bay in Australia during the 18th and 19th century, sometimes for as little as stealing a handcherchief. They were never to return home.

The video was filmed and edited by the excellent Rob Bridge at Redwood music photography.

Kelly will be on her UK album tour shortly with her London album launch date at the historic Cecil Sharp House in Camden on the 10th October. If you would like a personal copy the album is also available to pre-order from Kelly's Bandcamp page.

Photo credit: Elly Lucas

Gauntlet - Gilmore and Roberts

LCM #SongOfTheDay: The exciting new single 'Gauntlet' from the multi-award winning folk duo Kat Gilmore and Jamie Roberts. Kat and Jamie will releasing their excellent latest album 'A Problem Of Our Kind' on the 12th October. This new video was directed by Andy Little and filmed by Chris Little. They are also on a UK tour this autumn, with their London date at Cecil Sharp House on the 21st November.

Having already made a name for themselves on the UK acoustic circuit, Kat and Jamie are known as much for their exceptionally dynamic live show as they are for their prize-winning songs. With international tours and a formidable new album newly wedged under their belts, the duo are racing from strength to strength. 

http://www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/

Pre-order your copy at the link below

  Photo credit: Rob Bridge (Redwood Photography)

Agape - Bears Den

Our LCM featured artists today are London based Andrew Davie & Kev Jones better know collectively as the excellent Bear's Den. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a great song from their 'Islands' album entitled 'Agape'.

Bear's Den are a British folk rock band from London who formed in 2012. The band consists of Andrew Davie (lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar) and Kevin Jones (vocals, drums, bass, guitar) Bear's Den have released two studio albums: 'Islands' (2014) and their second studio album 'Red Earth & Pouring Rain' was released on 22 July 2016. Islands peaked at number forty-nine on the UK Albums Chart. The band has also issued two EPs: 'Agape' (2015) and 'Without/Within' (2013).

The band have been nominated for several music awards throughout their career, with "Above the Clouds of Pompeii" earning the band a nomination for the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2015. The band received two nominations at the UK Americana Awards in 2016, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Agape".

https://www.bearsdenmusic.co.uk/

Another Story - The Head And The Heart

Every so often we like to go back in the LCM archives and share some great music with you that you might have missed. A wonderful example are our LCM featured artists today Seattle, Washington based band The Head and the Heart. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the beautifully written 'Another Story' taken from their 2013 'Let's Be Still' album. 

The band were formed in the summer of 2009 by Josiah Johnson (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Jonathan Russell (vocals, guitar, percussion). The band also includes Charity Rose Thielen (violin, guitar, vocals), Chris Zasche (bass), Kenny Hensley (piano), and Tyler Williams (drums). The band is signed to Warner Brothers and have released three albums thus far. Since March 2016, Johnson has been on hiatus due to health-related issues.The band has toured in both North America and Europe

The band met and was formed through a series of open mic nights at Seattle's Conor Byrne pub in Ballard. Josiah Johnson had moved to Seattle from Southern California to pursue graduate school, and Jonathan Russell was a recent transfer from Richmond, Virginia. They met keyboardist Kenny Hensley, who had also moved to Seattle to pursue musical score-writing, and Charity Rose Thielen, who had recently returned from a year studying abroad in Paris at the Sciences Po. Drummer Tyler Williams had been in the band Prabir and The Substitutes in Richmond, but then moved to Seattle to be a part of the nascent Head and The Heart, after hearing one demo that Russell sent to him for the song "Down In The Valley". Chris Zasche was bartending at the Conor Byrne, working aftercare shifts at The Perkins School, and playing in Seattle bands The Maldives and Grand Hallway, and was the last to be added to original lineup. Johnson explained how the name of the band was chosen: "Your head is telling you to be stable and find a good job, you know in your heart that this [the band] is what you're supposed to do even if it's crazy."

http://www.theheadandtheheart.com

Missing Persons - Chris Cleverley Trio

It's always very interesting when friends come together and create a brand new collaboration. Our next LCM featured trio is one great example and one that we think could do very well. Formed by Birmingham based singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Cleverley, the trio also features the very talented fellow 'Company of Players' artists Kim Lowings from 'Kim Lowings and The Greenwood' and Cathy Pilkinton from 'Said The Maiden'. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a live version of 'Missing Persons', taken from Chris’s 'Apparitions' album and filmed by Rob Bridge of Redwood Photography.

Developing the solo live sound for which Chris has become well known across the UK, the trio presents fresh and vibrant arrangements of popular original and traditional material as well as exploring new, uncharted territory to stretch the boundaries of what we define as folk music.

Chris says of the new project: “There were two main purposes for assembling this line-up. Firstly, I wanted to reinterpret material from my own back catalogue which I had naturally become disconnected from after years of performance. The dynamism that these two sensational musicians brought to the arrangements made it like performing a whole bunch of brand new songs. Secondly, through gearing up for the recording of my next record, I wanted to introduce hints of the denser, more layered sound that we’ll be creating.”

With a focus on intricate three-part vocal harmonies and detailed, unorthodox instrumentation these three musicians draw on a long history of collaborating to present a richly layered and tightly cohesive live sound. Audiences can expect effects-laden acoustic and electric guitars, ebow, banjos, clarinet, shruti box and keyboard, all underpinning the centerpiece of the trio’s vocal arrangements.

The trio’s inaugural showcase performance offers a rare opportunity to catch this live act in 2018. This event is book-ended by Chris’ Autumn Solo Headline Tour dates, including performances at Orpington, Rothbury, Newcastle, Carlisle, Aylesbury, Oswaldtwistle, Frodsham and Romford.

All the above dates will unveil glimpses of new material taken from Chris’ second studio album, which commences production in November 2018 under the guidance of award winning producers Sam Kelly and Graham Coe. Covering broad and challenging imagery of deteriorating anxious minds, damaging gender constructs, literary heroines and struggling public services Chris’ new material reflects a keen intellect and strong social conscience.

The trio appear at hometown venue The Red Lion Folk Club in Birmingham on Wednesday 26th September 2018. The Chris Cleverley Trio are available for venue and festival bookings from Autumn 2019 onwards.

www.chriscleverley.com

False Light - The Willows

With an excellent third album 'Through The Wild' set for release in November, our next LCM featured artists are the wonderful multi-awarding The Willows. They will be on a UK tour very shortly with their London date at The Half Moon in Putney on the 5th September.  The album was produced by by Mark Tucker and Ben Savage. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the fantastic new single from the new album 'False Light'. The video was produced and filmed by the very talented Rob Bridge at Redwood Photography. You might remember Rob also did Kitty's video for 'Man, Friendship' that we shared earlier this week.

“False Light was written after many misty walks around Wicken Fen, near to Ely. We love the folklore around these old tales surrounding the area, where atmospheric ghost lights, know as false lights, would lure people off the path, within the marshy reeds.”

I always think that The Willows are a UK Folk/Americana supergroup with a huge wealth on talent on stage. They are well worth seeing live, if you haven't already

• Jade Rhiannon – Vocals, Shruti Box
• Cliff Ward – Banjo, Guitar, Fiddle, Vocals
• Ben Savage – Guitar, Dobro, Vocals
• Katriona Gilmore – Violin, Mandolin, Vocals
• Evan Carson – Bodhran, Percussion

The Willows are a folk band from Cambridge, UK. Their first album 'Beneath Our Humble Soil' was nominated for Best Debut in the Spiral Earth Awards 2014, and has been championed by the likes of Bob Harris and Mike Harding. The much anticipated follow-up 'Amidst Fiery Skies', co-produced with Sean Lakeman was released to critical aclaim, with The Telegraph hailing it "a triumph" in a 5-star review and a place in their folk albums of 2014. Fronted by the breathtaking vocals of Jade Rhiannon, supported by rich vocal harmonies and dynamic acoustic musicianship the band take influence from folk traditions on both sides of the Atlantic.

The band were formed in 2010 by husband and wife, Cliff and Jade, sister, Prue, and chance meeting via Gumtree, Ben. Following numerous gigs in folk clubs all over the the UK supporting the likes of LAU, Seth Lakeman, & Peatbog Faeries and an eponymous EP, the band released debut album 'Beneath Our Humble Soil' in 2013. Produced by Stu Hanna (Megson, Faustus, Show of Hands), the album caught the attention of BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris who invited the band in for a live session midway through their UK tour. Maverick Magazine gave the record 4½  stars, and it was subsequently nominated for Best Debut in the Spiral Earth Awards. 

https://www.thewillowsband.com

Man, Friendship - Kitty Macfarlane

Our next LCM featured artist is the wonderful young Somerset based folk singer-songwriter Kitty Macfarlane. Kitty will shortly be releasing her highly anticipated debut album 'Namer Of Clouds' via Navigator Records on the 21st September. We have been hearing very good reports and are really looking forward to hearing it in full and sharing a LCM review with you. Her lyrics combine honest snapshots of everyday humanity with the bigger questions that have connected minds and voices for centuries, driven by her own fingerpicked guitar.Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the lovely, timely and thoughtful 'Man, Friendship' taken from the new album. The song has been one of our personal favourites at Kitty's live shows.

'Man, Friendship' is a song of impermanence. “The Somerset Levels are prone to widespread flooding, and I wrote this song after the destructive deluge of early 2014. It’s about the ruthless power of nature, and the changes we see in our climate that are beginning to affect the creatures and landscapes that we love. Above all, it’s about what we as humans can cling to when all else is washed away.” Kitty comments

The excellent video is by our friend Rob Bridge at Redwood Photography.

Kitty is one of our LCM 'Ones To Watch' in 2018.

Kitty will be launching the new album with her band at The Water Rats in London on the 13th November. She is also on a UK tour (all dates on Kitty's website) and you can additionally catch her at a number of summer festivals. 

As well as the release of her debut EP 'Tide & Time' featuring Sam Kelly (co-producer), Jamie Francis, Lukas Drinkwater, Maya McCourt and Ciaran Algar, and gaining her first national airplay on the BBC Radio 2 folk show with Mark Radcliffe, and Tom Robinson's show on BBC 6Music - 2016 has seen Kitty complete an extensive national support tour with award-winning duo Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman. Other highlights range from support sets for Seth Lakeman, Alasdair Roberts, Rachel Sermanni, Blair Dunlop, and Feast of Fiddles, to appearing as a theme-tune on Radio 4, being a featured artist for a BBC Introducing documentary, and making the semi-final of the BBC Young Folk Award in 2015. Kitty has also recently been awarded a creative bursary from the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) for a songwriting project of her own devising.

http://www.kittymacfarlane.com/

Pre-order the new album here

Hold My Hand - Elizabeth and Jameson

We stay with fast rising UK duos with our next LCM featured artists Elizabeth and Jameson. Bedford based Hannah and Griff formed the new duo previously as 'Supermoon', before changing the name last year. Both are multi award winning as part of other established groups (Griff in Fred's House and Hannah in Said The Maiden). This is a very interesting new combination and one we think will do very well. As a taster our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the beautiful and tender new single 'Hold My Hand' taken from their four track 'The Second Phase' EP.  

Playing all over the UK with the trio Said The Maiden, Hannah Elizabeth's influences are very much planted within traditional folk roots.  This is in stark contrast to Griff Jameson's recent musical history, having penned a string of quirky rock/pop anthems for Fred's House. Together, Elizabeth & Jameson arguably offers the best of both backgrounds; this is simplistic, classic song writing at its best: a stripped back, harmony-driven sound with guitar, violin and exquisite vocals.

Having already opened up for the likes of Scott Matthews, Jon Allen, Bob Fox, Greg Russell, Jack Rutter and Richard Digance, the duo are also receiving critical acclaim for their debut EP ‘Supermoon’, along with an NMG Award nomination for Best Folk, Roots, Country & Acoustic Act… and an ever-growing fan base.

With a new limited edition live album recently released and a new EP planned, the future is looking rosey for Hannah and Griff. 

https://www.elizabethandjameson.co.uk/

Cat And The Fiddle - The Gothard Sisters

We take a trip to the Pacific Northwest today to meet our next LCM featured artists the very talented and multi award winning Greta, Willow and Solana better known collectively as The Gothard Sisters. They released their wonderful latest album 'Midnight Sun' recently in May and our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the very catchy lead track the 'Cat and the Fiddle'.

The Gothard Sisters are a dynamic musical group of three sisters who play contemporary Celtic music. Through 10 years performing, touring and writing music together, the optimistic style of their music and performances continue to resonate with their fans, building a loyal international following.

Their latest all-original album release, 'Midnight Sun', reached #6 on the Billboard World Music charts as the highest ranking debut on the chart, and the Gothard Sisters have performed in venues large and small all over the country, including a concert at the Kennedy Center's Millennium stage in Washington DC, performances with Disney Cruise line in Europe, music festivals and performing arts venues nationwide. Writing and recording near their home in the Pacific Northwest between touring nationally, the band has released 7 albums and has performed over 1,000 live shows over the course of their career.

https://www.gothardsisters.com/

A Thousand New Moons - Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage

Our LCM featured artists today are the wonderful Cambridge based Folk duo Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage. Hannah and Ben have recently released their latest album 'Awake' in May and our LCM #SongOfTheDay is their latest single the lovely 'A Thousand New Moons'. We have a full LCM review of the new album for you shortly and it is certainly worth exploring further.

Hannah and Ben are currently on tour in sunny Canada, so please go along and see them live if they gig near you. All the details are on their website.

Huddled round a single microphone, singing intimate duets with just mountain dulcimer, dobro and guitar Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage are an acoustic duo that look & sound classically timeless, yet feel refreshingly unique. Fleetingly, they may evoke a memory of Gram & Emmylou, Shirley & Davey, or Gillian & David but their warm distilling of musical influences from both sides of the Atlantic produces a refined sound that is decidedly their own. 

Their unique unplugged presentation creates a widescreen, cinematic soundscape with open spaces and atmosphere, giving their beautifully pure vocals room to share the songs’ emotion and narrative. The material is as joyful and fun as it is intense, but the common factor is the duo’s warmth and confidence in each other; their natural ease and connection is clearly evident on the recorded music, and a genuine pleasure to witness on stage. 

https://www.hannahbenmusic.com/

House On A Hill - Olivia Chaney

Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the beautiful and atmospheric new single from the very talented Olivia Chaney. We are big fans of Olivia's music here at LCM HQ and think she has a wonderful and pure vocal. The song is taken from her super second solo album 'Shelter' released in June. The album was produced by Thomas Bartlett and released through one of our favourite labels, Nonesuch Records.

If you would like to see Olivia live in London she is headlining at Kings Place on the 29th September after her US tour.

Classically-trained singer / pianist Olivia Chaney graduated from England’s Royal Academy of Music, before teaching herself guitar and Indian harmonium, delving back to the inspiration behind the British folk revivalists. She has since built a loyal and growing following as a songwriter and interpreter, both in the UK and internationally, through her acclaimed and eclectic live performances and much lauded recorded works.

Over the past few years, Olivia has collaborated and shared the stage with a diverse range of artists including Robert Plant, Eliza and Martin Carthy, The Decemberists, Shirley Collins, Alasdair Roberts, Kronos Quartet, Zero 7 and The Labèque Sisters.

Photo Credit: Phil Sharp

https://www.oliviachaney.com/

We Were Young Once Too - Carolina Story

We head to East Nashville today to meet our next LCM featured married Folk and Americana duo Emily Olson Roberts & Ben Roberts better known as Carolina Story. It's a very exciting time for the duo are they are about to release their debut album ' Lay Your Head Down' on the 13th July. As a taster of LCM #SongOfTheDay is an acoustic version of one of the first tracks 'We Were Young Once'. Let us know what you think? 

It’s rare you find a married music duo that adheres to none of the married-duo-cliches. Carolina Story writes and performs songs, knowing that there are enough love songs on earth. They evoke the blue collar man and woman, because that’s exactly who they are. From their genesis, they have crafted their sound to be a perfect mix of the lyrical grit and wit of Hank Williams Sr. and the tender atmosphere of Heartbreaker-era Ryan Adams. Carolina Story (Ben and Emily Roberts) are from Arkansas and South Dakota respectively, Ben being raised alongside the songs of Neil Young, George Jones, The Band and Bob Dylan; Emily on the sounds of Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Hank Sr. and Johnny Cash, giving their songs a seamless, organic blending influence of gritty, folky Americana and nostalgic traditional Country. 

It was music that drew them together at Visible Music College, a progressive arts college – on a fateful, summer day in late-August of 2007, they met outside of the dorms under the hot Memphis sun as Ben helped Emily move a couch into her room. While drawn to each other’s talent, they came to realize the overlapping nature of their hearts. It was in Western North Carolina, on a week-long, Fall camping trip, where the band's story really begins. They were both preoccupied by separate projects at the time with Emily focusing on her budding career as a solo singer/songwriter and Ben being in another band. It was on that trip camping along the Davidson and French Broad Rivers that the light bulb went off. They decided to ditch their current endeavors upon returning to Memphis and focus on writing and performing together. Carolina Story was born beside the afterglow of a campfire along the banks of those rivers with the name embodying the inception of their journey together. 

They were married in June of 2009 and embarked on their first tour right after their honeymoon with Ben finishing his last semester of school online from the road. Since then, they have been hard at work playing nearly 700 shows in 43 states, writing and putting out music they believe in; each release astonishingly better than the last. Starting as starry-eyed newly-weds ready for the road ahead with their debut album evolving into wise road-worn troubadours on their second album, Home, with the ability to turn an insightful phrase at a moment’s notice.

You can hear the euphoria in the way their voices rise and merge. Ben, dusky, dusty and earthy; Emily, sunny, velvety, lush. Traveling America in a Prius named Minnie Pearl, with one guitar, harmonicas, tambourines, an American Tourister suitcase for a drum and dreams that outfuel their hybrid ride, Carolina Story is the rapture of being young, gifted and willing.

Chapter One marks the emergence of a sound that is acoustic, but bold. Produced by Grammy-winner Blake Chancey (Dixie Chicks, David Allen Coe, Waylon Jennings, Mary Chapin Carpenter), these six lyrically minimalist songs demonstrate the sustaining power of love, the depths of yearning and the legacy our lives beget -- delivered with the kind of swirling, seamless harmonies that make two seem as one.

As Chapter One climbs both the Americana and Singer/Songwriter charts on iTunes, Ben and Emily look forward to the upcoming release titled Chapter Two, as well as their Grand Ole Opry debut on June 28th.

The future for Carolina Story is limitless. They’re a small fish in a big sea of similar Americana duos but the sincerity and humanity of their music makes them stand out among even the best.

http://www.carolinastory.com/

Far Beyond - Good Harvest

We head back to Sweden today to meet our next LCM featured duo Hanna Enlöf and Ylva Eriksson better known as the wonderful Good Harvest. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a beautiful live version of 'Far Beyond' taken from their excellent debut album 'In a Life and Place Like This'. 

Extraordinary beautiful, emotional and well crafted. That's how the music of Hanna and Ylva is described. They call themselves musical twins, which shines through the inter weaved harmonies and phenomenal interaction on stage.

Their journey together has had an impressive start and along the way they’ve garnered a vast and devoted fanbase. It seems almost unlikely that it hasn’t been more than two years since they randomly ended up on a stage together and found their musical home in Good Harvest. In 2014 they released their EP 'Bottom Dollar'.

To best describe their music, imagine a mix of how Simon & Garfunkel play together, add the harmonies of Nick Drake and finish of with the strong approach and narrative style of Gillian Welch - and you get a great amount of musical warmth and a big craving for more.

Not only have they held concerts for the King of Sweden, they’ve also appeared live on Sweden’s main national radio station several times and toured all over Sweden. Among the many great things that has happened since this astonishing duo started out, they’ve been awarded with the title ‘Newcomer of the Year’ at Dalecarlia Music Awards, given a songwriting scholarship at Live at Heart and played at huge venues such as the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, TX and Stockholm Music & Arts 2015.

Safe to say, a lot of people are looking forward to their debut album with great expectations - and it’ll leave no one disappointed when it comes out in a near future.

http://goodharvestmusic.com/