A NEW live and local season of ‘surprising shows in surprising places’ gets under way this month and Marchington is one of the first villages to host some top class entertainment.
Marchington Village Hall will host Lady Maisery in concert later this month, one of the top new folk acts in the country.
This young vocal and instrumental trip have blazed onto the scene in the last year with their first album getting critical acclaim and were just pipped at the post for Best New Folk Act at the BBC Folk Awards.
Their debut album Weave and Spin is a captivating collection of songs carefully chosen and arranged to showcase the vocal quality of the group.
Forged from the majestic voices of Hannah James, Hazel Askew and Rowan Rheingans, the trio bring fresh interpretations of traditional songs and ballads such as their ambitious reworking of Willie’s Lady and an eerie interpretation of Nottamun Town.
Between them they enchant with lovely rich harmonies and they play a host of instruments from accordion, harp, banjo, concertina, fiddle and the ban-sitar (banjo/sitar) – as well as a spot of clog dancing thrown in for good measure.
Hannah James is a veteran of the folk festival and club circuit having released five albums with Kerfuffle over nine years of touring before performing with fiddle player Sam Sweeney as a duo after they split and releasing the acclaimed album Catches and Glees.
Hazel Askew is also well-known on the folk scene, particularly for her work playing the melodeon and singing with her sister Emily in popular duo The Askew Sisters and together they have released two acclaimed albums and toured some top venues.
Fiddle player Rowan Rheingans also brings the ban-sitar playing skill to the group and has great success on the folk scene in Scandinavia.
Lady Maisery are also one of the first UK groups to explore the tradition of diddling or tune singing, which has all but died out in England, but is still prevalent in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe.
The combined influence of these traditions can be seen in sets such as the toe-tapping European dance tunes Labajalg/Polska, as well as a fun rendition of the classic Primrose and Bluebell Polkas.
Whether singing unaccompanied, or with backing from their combined instrumental talents, the audience in Marchington will be enchanted by rich harmonies and sumptuous clashes.
They perform at Marchington Village Hall on Saturday, January 19 at 7.30pm and tickets are available costing £9 by calling 01283 820583 or from Marchington Village Shop.
