Produced by Ian Carter;
Recorded in Ian’s kitchen and above a North London tube station

Musicians

Nicola Kearey: vocals;
Ian Carter: guitar;
Joolie Wood: violin;
Fran Morter, Rachel Davies: backing vocals

Tracks

1. Four-Loom Weaver (Roud 937) (2.46)
2. All the Things (3.54)
3. Poor Old Man (2.18)
4. Bedlam (Roud V16366) (3.15)
5. Ends (4.32)

Track 1 trad.;
Track 4 words trad., music Nic Jones / Dave Moran;

Recorded, mixed and produced by Ian Carter;
Co-produced by Nicola Kearey;
Recorded at: Southfields Industrial Park Basildon, above Caledonian Tube Road Station, The Snake Pit, Sutton House Homerton, the front rooms at Walthamstow and Leytonstone;
Mastered by Kevin Tenniswood at Curve Pusher;
Artwork and phtography by Nicola Kearey and Ian Carter, assisted by Gab Lloret and Joel Januriek

Musicians

Nicola Kearey: lead vocals, concertina, handclaps;
Ian Carter: guitar, accordion, percussion, handclaps, vocals;
Fran Foote: harmony vocals, recorder, accordion, handclaps;
Si Foote: percussion, vocals, handclaps;
Ellie Wilson: violin;
Joolie Wood: additional violin;
Rachel Thomas Davies, Gbenga Adelekan: additional vocals

Tracks

Side 1

1. Champion (1.37)
2. Common Ground (3.25)
3. Seven Gipsies (Roud 1; Child 200; G/D 2:278; Henry H124) (4.10)
4. My Barra (3.18)
5. The Blacksmith (Roud 816) (3.28)
6. Jail Song (Roud 1077) (1.57)
7. Hard Times of Old England (Roud 1206) (4.18)

Side 2

8. Me n Becky (2.34)
9. The Bows of London (Roud 8; Child 10; G/D 2:213) (2.23)
10. Bedlam (Roud V16366) (3.13)
11. Hasp (4.52)
12. By of River (2.31)
13. Who Knows (4.39)
14. By of River (Reprise) (3.26)

There are no credits given on the album but these tracks are easily identifialble:
Track 1 Ewan MacColl;
Tracks 3, 5-7, 9 trad.;
Track 10 words trad., music Nic Jones / Dave Moran;

Video

Stick in the Wheel play Ewan MacColl’s Champion at Keeping Them Rolling:

Conceived and produced by Nicola Kearey and Ian Carter;
Recordings by Stick in the Wheel

Musicians

Nicola Kearey: lead vocals;
Fran Foote: harmony vocals;
Ian Carter: guitar;
Ellie Wilson: violin;
Si Foote: percussion

Tracks

Side 1

1. Cryes (3.49)

Side 2

2. Broomes (1.31)

Track 1 from a 17^th Century broadside ballad and set to new music;
Track 2 from a 16^th century play Three Ladies of London

We set out to make a collection of live recordings—a snapshot of English folk music right now. We wanted to capture performances that were immediate and intimate. You feel like you’re in the room with them, hearing a continuation of a tradition which is very much alive, and evolving.

We didn’t know most of these people, being new to the folk scene. But we could see across the breadth of England, what a wide range of music and styles there were. When we approached the artists, most of them said yes without question, and trusted us with their art. We were welcomed into private and personal spaces, in down-time, and between gigs. Often we were done within the hour, then packed away in the boot of the car, and on to the next one. Of course there are people we don’t know about, or couldn’t get… There is always next time.

From a stone cottage in Edale, a London bank vault, a Bristol back room, to a Robin’s Hood Bay garden at dusk, a Bedford kitchen, each artist was asked to think about what From Here meant to them—by way of place or geography, as a way of looking back to musical origins, or simply where they are at this very moment in time—“here’s what I am, this is where I’m from”. Then we just recorded them live, in situ, two stereo mics, no overdubs. Exactly as if you were right there.

Recorded on location by Ian Carter;
Mixed and produced by Ian Carter;
Artwork and additional production by Nicola Kearey;
Mastered by Barry Grint at Alchemy.

Tracks

Side 1

1. Jack Sharp: Bedfordshire May Carol (Roud 937) (2.33)
2. Eliza Carthy: The Sea (4.18)
3. John Kirkpatrick: Here’s Adieu to Old England (Roud 1703; G/D 6:1083) (4.50)
4. Bella Hardy: The Ballad of Hugh Stenson (5.09)
5. Martin Carthy: The Bedmaking (Roud 1631) (3.17)
6. Nicola Kearey: Georgie (Roud 90; Child 209; G/D 2:249) (2.45)
7. Jon Boden: Fathom the Bowl (Roud 880) (3.57)
8. Lisa Knapp: Lavender Song (Roud 854) (2.04)

Side 2

9. Spiro with Madame Česki: Lost in Fishponds (2.42)
10. Sam Lee: The Wild Rover (Roud 1173; G/D 7:1480) (3.48)
11. Stew Simpson: Eh Aww Ah Cud Hew (2.28)
12. Fran Foote: The Irish Girl (Roud 308; G/D 5:946; Henry H711) (3.52)
13. Sam Sweeney: Bagpipers / Mount Hills (4.38)
14. Fay Hield: My Bonny Boy (Roud 293; G/D 6:1141; Henry H215) (3.41)
15. Peta Webb & Ken Hall: Just a Note / Wild Wild Whiskey (4.14)
16. Rob Harbron: Young Collins / Getting Up Stairs (3.20)
17. Men Diamler: 1848 (Sunset Beauregard) (2.31)

All tracks trad. except
Track 2 Eliza Carthy;
Track 11 Ed Pickford;
Track 15a Ewan MacColl;
Track 15b Bob Davenport

Video

The above album English Folk Field Recordings was presented at the Café Oto on 18-19 March 2017. This donload single offers two live recordings from this event.

Tracks

1. Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp: The Poacher’s Fate (Roud 793; Laws L14) (3.32)
2. Fran Foote & Belinda Kempster: Dark-Eyed Sailor (Roud 265; Laws N35; G/D 5:1037; Henry H232) (4.40)

All tracks trad.

Recorded, programmed, produced and mixed by Ian Carter;
Mastered by Barry Grint at Alchemy;
Artwork, photography and design by Nicola Kearey

Musicians

Nicola Kearey, vocals, handclaps, percussion;
Fran Foote, harmony vocals, accordion, recorder, handclaps;
Ian Carter, guitars, handclaps, percussion, vocals, synthesisers, beats;
Ellie Wilson, violin, viola, vocals;
Simon Foote, drums, percussion, vocals

with
Laura Smyth, additional concertina [7]

Tracks

Side 1

1. Over Again (2.24)
2. Weaving Song (1.15)
3. Witch Bottle (2.48)
4. White Copper Alley (Roud 1554) (1.47)
5. Follow Them True (2.47)
6. 100,000 Years (2.41)
7. Abbots Bromley Horn Dance (3.33)

Side 2

8. Roving Blade (Roud 490; Laws L12; G/D 2:260) (4.04)
9. Unquiet Grave (2.28)
10. Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green (Roud 132; Laws N27; G/D 5:1061) (3.56)
11. Poor Old Horse (Roud 3724) (2.28)
12. Red Carnation (2.44)
13. As I Roved Out (I Will Sleep Sound) (3.32)

Video

Follow Them True trailer:

Recorded, programmed, produced and mixed by Ian Carter;
Mastered by Barry Grint at Alchemy;
Artwork, photography and design by Nicola Kearey

Musicians

Nicola Kearey: vocals, handclaps, percussion;
Fran Foote: harmony vocals, accordion, recorder, handclaps;
Ian Carter: guitars, handclaps, percussion, vocals, synthesisers, beats;
Ellie Wilson: violin, viola, vocals;
Simon Foote: drums, percussion, vocals

with
Jack Sharp, Laura Smyth and Ted Kemp: vocals [4];
Anna Roberts-Gevalt: vocals [5];
Lisa Knapp: vocals [9]

Tracks

1. The Cruel Ship’s Captain (Roud 835) (4.18)
2. Follow Them True 95 (Live) (2.40)
3. Jolly Bold Robber (Roud 1464) (2.25)
4. Watercress-O (3.09)
5. In the Morning (6.04)
6. Wishing Well (4.01)
7. The Memory of This (3.23)
8. Lemady Arise (Roud 193, 2445) (3.16)
9. The Over (3.38)
10. As I Roved Out (Om Unit Remix) (4.43)

Track 4 Roger Watson;
Track 6 Anne Briggs

Recorded on location, mixed and produced by Ian Carter;
Artwork and additional production by Nicola Kearey;
Mastered by Barry Grint at Alchemy.

Tracks

Side 1

1. Nancy Kerr: Gan tae the Kye (Roud 3162) / Peacock Followed the Hen (2.14)
2. Rachel Unthank: The Sandgate Dandling Song (Roud B24532) (3.45)
3. C Joynes: Cottenham Medley tunes (2.52)
4. Richard Dawson: The Almsgiver (4.39)
5. Cath & Phil Tyler: Ladle (Roud 1004; Laws Q7) / Richmond (3.59)
6. Mary Humphreys & Anahata: Barbara Allen (Roud 54; Child 84; G/D 6:1193; Henry H236) (4.32)
7. June Tabor: The King of Rome (4.01)

Side 2

8. Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp: Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy (Roud 165) (2.46)
9. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne: Two Lovely Black Eyes (Roud 13631) (3.03)
10. Grace Petrie: A Young Woman’s Tale (2.32)
11. Belinda Kempster: Nightingales (Roud 140; Laws P14; TYG 34) (3.33)
12. Kathryn Tickell: Bonnie Pit Laddie/ Lads of Alnwick tunes (3.37)
13. Chris Wood: So Much to Defend (6.04)
14. Sandra & Nancy Kerr: Nancy Clough tune (2.25)

Bonus CD

15. Bryony Griffith: Poverty Knock (Roud 3491; TYG 14) (4.35)
16. Mary Humphreys & Anahata: Lord Lovell (Roud 48; Child 75; G/D 6:1232) (4.47)
17. Frankie Armstrong: Lily (3.27)
18. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne: Drink Old England Dry (Roud 882) (3.38)
19. Sandra Kerr: Can We Afford the Doctor? (3.34)
20. Will Pound: Amazing Grace (Roud 5430) tune (4.02)

All tracks trad. except
Track 2 Robert Nunn;
Track 4 Richard Dawson;
Track 7 Dave Sudbury;
Track 9 Charles Coborn;
Track 10 Grace Petrie;
Track 13 Chris Wood;
Track 19 Sandra Kerr;
Track 20 John Newton

Video

Recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by Ian Carter;
Recorded on location at St Peter and St Paul Church, Harndon-on-the-Hill, and Fran Foote’s living room, Basildon;
Belinda & Fran photo by Gary Franklin;
Textile art by Fran Foote;
Design by Nicola Kearey

Folk Radio UK review by Mike Davies

Musicians

Belinda Kempster: vocals [1-11];
Fran Foote: vocals [1-11], shruti box [2, 7, 11];
Ernest Austin: vocals [12]

Tracks

1. John Barleycorn (Roud 164; G/D 3:559) (3.28)
2. The Sheep-Shearing Song (Roud 812) (4.06)
3. The Dark-Eyed Sailor (Roud 265; Laws N35; G/D 5:1037; Henry H232) (4.49)
4. Bushes and Briars (Roud 1027) (3.28)
5. The Female Drummer (Roud 226; G/D 1:182; Henry H497) (5.36)
6. Little Bugger (Roud 149) (1.37)
7. Dearly Missed (Roud 191; TYG 2) (6.28)
8. The Nutting Girl (Roud 509; G/D 7:1475) (5.28)
9. The Knife in the Window (Roud 32572) (2.55)
10. The Bonny Labouring Boy (Roud 1162; Laws M14; Henry H576) (3.21)
11. Tarry Trousers (Roud 427) (2.28)
12. Ernie’s Song (0.42)

Notes

Belinda Kemster began singing traditional songs in the 1960s: “Our family has a history of farming and working on the land; these songs come from that way of life at work and at play.” She met her husband in a folk club, and their daughter Fran Foote grew up immersed in the local folk scene, learning songs from her parents from a very young age. Many of their songs were learned from Fran’s great uncle and farm labourer Ernie Austin, who was recorded for Topic’s album Flash Company in 1973. Austin lived and worked in the small village of Bentley, just outside Colchester, and sang songs related to his work and recreation, stuff you’d sing down the pub.

This collection of songs is made up of those taught to Belinda by Ernie and from private family recordings. Also included are personal favourites from Belinda’s repertoire: “We want our family’s music to be documented. This is the tradition of our family and singing these songs together feels like coming home.” Clay Hill Road is an area of Basildon that Belinda and Fran have always lived near.

Musicians

Nicola Kearey: vocals, handclaps, percussion;
Ian Carter: guitars, handclaps, percussion, vocals, synthesisers, beats

with
Chris Joynes: guitar [5, 7];
Jack Sharp, Cinder Well: drone and deep textures [9]

Tracks

1. Down in Yon Forest (Roud 1523) (3.59)
2. Drive the Cold Winter Away (Roud V9375) (4.12)
3. Nine Herbs Charm (3.37)
4. My Boy Is Heavy (1.31)
5. Sang Kancil (Stick in the Wheel Remix) (5.13)
6. Moskeener (2.35)
7. Georgie (Roud 90; Child 209; G/D 2:249) (6.18)
8. There Is Work to Be Done (3.09)
9. Swarte Smiths, Smateryd with Smoke (3.41)
10. Down in Yon Forest (Roud 1523) (Interlude) (3.16)

Tracks 1-2, 7, 10 trad.;
Track 3 10^thcentury spell translated from Old English;
Track 9 14^thcentury poem

Video

Stick in the Wheel sing Down in Yon Forest:

Help the Witch was acclaimed writer Tom Cox’s otherworldly fiction debut of short stories that broke Unbound’s record for pre-orders in 2018. When Tom approached From Here Records about making a soundtrack to his book by asking some of his favourite musicians to write a new track based on one of the ten stories, they were thrilled. It’s one of the reasons they started the label, to reach across genres and art forms and get great music in front of people. These artists all have very unique ways of interpreting folk and landscape-inspired music and it’s an ideal companion to the bestselling book.

Musicians

Tracks

Side 1

1. Zervas & Pepper: Reeds and Rushes (4.32)
2. Trimdon Grange Explosion: The Pool (4.32)
3. The Left Outsides: Séance (4.32)
4. Bobby Lee: Listings (5.20)
5. Stick in the Wheel: Robot (4.54)

Side 2

6. Jack Sharp: Vanished House (3.36)
7. Widow’s Weeds: Woodcat (5.11)
8. Daniel Davies: Things You Might Say (4.50)
9. Jim Ghedi: Help the Witch (5.16)
10. Gemma Khawaja: Speed Awareness (8.28)

Produced, recorded and mixed by Ian Carter at BSMNT and Monolith Studios;
Mastered by Barry Grint at Alchemy;
Artwork, photography and design by Nicola Kearey

Folk Radio UK review by Thomas Blake

Musicians

Ian Carter: guitars, bass, percussion, synthesisers, programming;
Nicola Kearey: vocals

with
Sian Monaghan: drums;
John Kirkpatrick: melodeon and trills [2]

Tracks

1. A Tree Must Stand in the Earth (5.44)
2. Budg & Snudg (Roud V44475) (2.39)
3. Top Knot (2.06)
4. Villon Song (2.26)
5. Gold So Red (2.24)
6. Fake Away (4.35)
7. Soldier, Soldier (3.58)
8. Possible Reasons for Eventual Admission to the Asylum (4.52)
9. Drive the Cold Winter Away (Roud V9375) (4.14)
10. Nine Herbs Charm (3.43)
11. Forward (4.43)

Track 1 words adapted from the 10^th century Exeter Book;
Track 3 early 18^th century;
Track 4 words W.E. Henley (late 1800s);
Track 7 words Rudyard Kipling, music Peter Bellamy;
Track 10 10^thcentury spell translated from Old English;

Video

Stick in the Wheel sing Fake Away:

Produced by Ian Carter

Musicians

Ian Carter: guitars, bass, percussion, synthesisers, programming;
Nicola Kearey: vocals

with
Sian Monaghan: drums and percussion [11, 13];
George Hoyle: bass [13]

Tracks

1. Long the Day (3.23)
2. The Cuckoo (Roud 413; G/D 6:1157; Henry H479) (3.37)
3. Holet (1.31)
4. The Seafarer (4.37)
5. PRSN (2.55)
6. Stroud Green Sentinel (1.08)
7. Carter’s Peal (1.01)
8. Ruins (2.38)
9. Blind Beggar (2.31)
10. Perpen (2.35)
11. The Devil’s Nag (2.18)
12. Tottenham Hale Monolith (3.06)
13. Wierds Broke It (3.16)

Download only

14. Side A mixed (17.41)
15. Side B mixed (16.19)

All tracks by Nicola Kearey and Ian Carter except
Track 2 words trad.

Produced by Ian Carter and Nicola Kearey;
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Ian Carter;
Artwork and design by Nicola Kearey;

Musicians

Ian Carter: guitars, bass, percussion, synthesisers, programming;
Nicola Kearey: vocals

with
Nabibah Iqbal: vocals [1, 3, 6];
Jon1st [2, 5-6];
Olugbenga [4, 6];
Sian Monaghan: drums [6]

Tracks

1. Nabihah Iqbal x SITW: The Milkmaid (Roud 298; G/D 4:812) (4.12)
2. Jon1st x SITW: The Ballad of Black Annis (3.21)
3. Nabihah Iqbal x SITW: Farewell He (Roud 1034, 803; Henry H504) (8.24)
4. Olugbenga x SITW: Devil in the Well / Bright-Eyed Boy (4.44)
5. Jon1st x SITW: Let No Man Steal Your Thyme (Roud 3; G/D 6:1180) (3.49)
6. SITW x Jon1st, Nabihah Iqbal, Olugbenga: Euphoric Clashes (6.28)

Download only

7. Side A mixed (15:56)
8. Side B mixed (15.02)

Recorded by George Murphy at Eastcote Studios;
Produced and mixed by Ian Carter;
Co-produced by Nicola Kearey;
Artwork and design by Nicola Kearey

Musicians

Ian Carter: guitars, bass, percussion, synthesisers, programming;
Nicola Kearey: vocals

Tracks

1. Bedlam (Roud V16366) (2.43)
2. White Copper Alley (Roud 1554) (1.48)
3. Robot (4.24)
4. As I Roved Out (4.42)
5. Villon Song (2.35)
6. Gold So Red (2.24)

Tracks 1-2, 4 trad. arr. Ian Carter, Nicola Kearey;
Track 3 words Tom Cox, music Ian Carter, Nicola Kearey;
Track 5 words from the poem by W.E. Henley, music Ian Carter, Nicola Kearey;
Track 6 Ian Carter, Nicola Kearey