DKOS Sat 5th Feb 2022
Eve Simpson. / Dom Prag. /. Elsa Jean McTaggart & Gary Lister. /. Malcolm McWatt /. Erin Mansfield & Davy Tonkes. /. Hannah Kelly
Eve Simpson Sat 5th Feb 2022
- I Can See A Face. /. 2. All Her Strange Home. /. 3. Happy People Home. /. 4. Tyne Home
One winter’s eve, childhood configurations of nightmare and temptation begin to dance upon Salisbury Crags as isolation evokes feelings of nostalgia and escapism. Such is the folklore behind Eve Simpson’s matured debut: I Can See a Face, a tale of the inanimate crags coming to life in the shape of our childhood selves, longing for human interaction and acceptance. Simpson’s storytelling of child-like fantasy interweaves with the crystal-clear production efforts of Scott Turnbull, as the SandDancer’s voice
lilts against the Caledonian setting.
Inspired by the greats Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and Laura Marling, SandDancer Eve Simpson has supported the likes of Beth Nielsen Chapman, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, UB40, Cattle & Cane, The Lake Poets, and Callum Pitt. Touring the English folk festival scene with Kathryn Tickell & Superfolkus, Eve was also a featured artist at the 2018 English Folk Expo ‘Both Sides Now’ Industry Showcase, as well as scoring the North East segment of ‘A Kind of Seeing’ film, winning a FOCAL International Film Award. Eve has also received regular airplay and festival support from BBC Introducing
in the North East, as well as BBC 6 Music.
Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, ‘I Can See a Face’ is due for release across all platforms on the 18th of February 2022, exploding Eve’s new artistry into 2022 with a matured, heart- wrenching sound, solidifying her identity as a songwriter with honesty, people, and places at her core.
Dom Prag. Sat 5th Feb 2022
- The Shoemender. /. 2 Come All You Fine Young People. /. 3. Oakey Strike Evictions. /. 4. Needle Thread
Dom Prag has been steeped in the traditions of the classical guitar since childhood.His Dad taught him to play but he stopped having lessons at about 12 and took things off in his own fashion, learning to play blues and composing songs of his own. The style evolved into folk music but Dom’s playing is basically classical guitar and he has never yet swapped his nylon strings for steel. His playing exploits the
instrument’s bass opportunities and its range, from mellow and lyrical, to thunderous. He delivers a challenging repertoire, in songs that show a desire to fight injustice and help bring people through dark times to the light at the end of the tunnel, a feeling which informs his repertoire choices and his writing equally on this album.
In normal times, Dom tours throughout the UK and is a regular performer at folk clubs and festivals. In between lockdowns, in July 2020 he moved onto a narrowboat and has spent the time since then acquainting himself with life on the canals. The other thing that kept him going despite Covid restrictions was working on Needle & Thread, his second album, produced by Phil Beer. The recording was much interrupted by lockdowns but with some contributions recorded remotely and some socially distanced sessions recorded at either Phil Beer’s studio in Devon, or his popup studio at Loudwater Farm in Rickmansworth, the album is finally ready and will be released in February 2022.
Elsa Jean McTaggart & Gary Lister Sat 5th Feb 2022
1 Longing For Scotland. /. 2. Coming Home. /. 3. Forever Together. /. 4. Phantom Fiddler
Take songs that stop conversations, a voice that could stop wars and a fiddle that stops at nothing, and you have the icon Elsa McTaggart.
Elsa’s music consists of original compositions of traditional style played on the fiddle and whistle. Her songs, which would come under the world music genre, range from folk to contemporary, blues, jazz and swing, are performed with guitar, a capella or sometimes the fiddle. Elsa writes about life, about spiritual and emotional aspects, and about people she has met and tells the stories behind the songs and tunes.
Having supported legends such as Finbar Furey, Dougie MacLean and the Sands Family, Elsa Jean McTaggart has often been described as such in her own right.
A force of laughter, whom, if you haven’t yet experienced one of her joy-filled live performances …it’s time you did!
Self-taught, gifted multi-instrumentalist, songstress, and one of eleven children, Elsa accompanied by her husband Mr Lister have independently forged a unique and ever more impressive touring schedule around Europe and the UK which began the day after their wedding with the ‘honeymoon Tour’ 10 yrs ago. Today they continue to enchant audiences with their warmth, laughter, stories and of course their eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional folk with an original twist and a sprinkling of blues, jazz and joy.
Malcolm MacWatt Sat 5th Feb 2022
- Ghost of Caledonia. /. 2. The Curse Of Molly McPhee. /. 3. My Bonny Boys Have Gone. /. 4. John Rae Welcome Home
Under the umbrella of Santa Cruz-based Need To Know Music, Scottish songwriter Malcolm MacWatt continues to highlight the Celtic voice in Americana music with his latest album Settler.
MacWatt weaves Scottish balladry with Appalachian string band influences to tell stories of loss, injustice and arduous journeys. With contributions from renowned Americana artists Gretchen Peters, Laura Cantrell and Jaimee Harris, as well as British folk icons Eliza Carthy and Kris Drever, the album acknowledges that music travels from place to place picking up new inflections and nuances wherever it puts down roots.
Settler builds on the success of last year’s Skail EP, conceived and recorded at his London home during the first Covid lockdown, with MacWatt exploring ties between Scotland and the New World. The EP was warmly received with superb reviews and extensive airplay on both sides of the Atlantic. The new album was also home-recorded, mixed at L Sound London then finished at True East Mastering in Nashville.
Hailing from Morayshire with the Highlands and North Sea as a constant backdrop, MacWatt was raised listening to the folklore and music of Scotland. His love for the outdoors saw him spending much of his life as a keen hillwalker, snowboarder and surfer; learning first hand that the Highlands are beautiful and uplifting but unforgivingly harsh if taken for granted. Like many other young men from the area he worked on the offshore oil rigs where the power of the North Sea was a constant reminder to remain humble in the face of nature. As such there’s sensitivity, compassion and humanity in his songwriting with a rugged simplicity and directness in how they are delivered.
He has lived in London since 2010 with plans to move back north in the near future.
Ering Mansfield & Davy Tonks Sat 5th Feb 2022
- Margas Moment – Dr O’Neill’s Jig. /. 2. Butterfly Slip Jig. /. 3 Tonk’s Reels. /. 4. Muirean’s Jig
Erin Mansfield (whistle/vocals) is an up and coming young talent in the the folk world. Rooted in British folk music, Erin merges both traditional and contemporary styles to deliver a truly unique quality in the music she produces. “A young June Tabor” – Tim Edey.
Danny Tonks (guitar/vocals) is an exciting fingerstyle guitarist, and a true master of his craft. Danny strikes each chord with passion and captivates audiences with his humble stage presence.
The two join to create music which both celebrates the old traditions, and welcomes the new. Truly an act to watch!
Hannah Kelly Sat 5th Feb 2022
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- Was Wird Si. /. 2. October Sky. /. 3 Hold Me /. 4. Scarborough Fair. /. 5. Fly
Hannah Kelly is an Irish/Swiss singer and songwriter. Shortly after learning her first words, she was already belting out songs around her family home. With the advent of social media, she started recording herself for Instagram and YouTube. Since then, her most popular cover has reached over 60,000 views. At twenty years old, she took a leap of faith and moved to the German capital, Berlin, to pursue her passion for music.
After singing many styles, Hannah has found a niche for herself in the realm of folk-pop. The lyrics are inspired by stories and experiences of herself and her friends. With riffs, runs, soft sound and impressive projection, she creates spell-binding dynamics. Her sweet yet powerful voice is what sets her apart from others.
Hannah has an extensive background in in vocal education and has been fortunate enough to perform as a lead or backing vocalist all over Europe, including Zurich, Switzerland; Mutia, Finland; Copenhagen, Denmark and Berlin, Germany. Some of her favourite gigs were supporting the British artist Keir in Privatclub, Berlin, her performance in Winterthur, Switzerland as part of the concert series called ‘Musikdate’ by Karin Leuch, her gig at Pfefferwerk for the Berliner Märchentage and her live performance/interview for the Berlin radio station Mädchenradio by Alex radio.
Where is Hannah today?
After years of performing with others, Hannah is now focussing on her own music. In December 2020 she released her debut Single New Faces with a music video, followed by her next release Ocean Brain later that year. Thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign on WeMakeIt, her team was able to shoot a breath- taking accompanying music video. In August 2021 this music video was played at the Gässli Film Festival in Basel. Currently, Hannah is working on new music including her first EP ForgetMeNot, which is due to be released in 2022 and promises to be brimming with fresh, exciting, and ethereal soundscapes from start to finish.