Martin Carthy

For more than 50 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music's greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it.

Trailblazing musical partnerships with, amongst others, Steeleye Span, Dave Swarbrick and his award-winning wife (Norma Waterson) and daughter Eliza Carthy have resulted in more than 40 albums, but Martin has only recorded 10 solo albums, of which the much anticipated Waiting for Angels (Topic TSCD527) was the latest.

Whether in the folk clubs (which he continues to champion), on the concert stage or making TV appearances (he was the subject of the acclaimed `Originals' music documentary strand on BBC 2) – there are few roles that Martin Carthy hasn't played.

He's a ballad singer, a ground-breaking acoustic and electric-guitarist and an authoritative interpreter of newly composed material. He always prefers to follow an insatiable musical curiosity rather than cash in on his unrivalled position. Perhaps, most significant of all, are his settings of traditional songs with guitar, which have influenced a generation of artists, including Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, on both sides of the Atlantic.

“Arguably the greatest English folk song performer, writer, collector, and editor of them all.” Q Magazine

“Carthy is a master of the ballad of substance, songs that tell stories, whether they are traditional, his own or from contemporary writers.” The Telegraph

https://mainlynorfolk.info/martin.carthy/index.html

Max Wareham

Max Wareham's voice is always about to break, warbling and true. He cut his teeth studying jazz at conservatory, but now polishes them digging holes on a horse farm. Known primarily as bassist in psychedelic-pop-rock band Sun Parade, and contributing songwriter to studio-collective Cousin Moon, his solo work is influenced by British folk music, early country music, astronauts, ancestors, deep-sea divers, and Medieval English poetry.

His debut release, simultaneously an album (Good News) and an EP (Rosie) feature fingerstyle guitar woven into tapestries of lo-fi chamber orchestra- bassoons churning, pump organs sitting, sparse and spare. The gentle vocals are a down pillow of memory and longing, the songs winding in wordplay, sincere and sentimental, sometimes silly. His music rings to an old tune with new words, deja vu, and the warm moments in cold seasons.

https://maxwareham.com/