Bella Hardy, critically acclaimed for her mesmerising singing and fiddle performances, will release her eagerly awaited second solo album In The Shadow of Mountains on 31st August 2009.
Though only 25 years old, Bella has already been nominated three times in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and has been well known on the folk circuit for many years, playing fiddle in a variety of popular line-ups as a teenager and reaching the finals of the BBC Young Folk Awards in 2004. However, it was following the launch of her debut album Night Visiting in 2007 that she quickly rose to become one of the shining lights of the folk scene, famed for entwining her hypnotic voice with her own fiddle accompaniment to stunning effect. Night Visiting secured Bella a raft of rave reviews, and 2008 saw a packed year of gigs and festival appearances.
In July 2008, Bella was invited to perform in two concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall as part of the first ever Folk Prom. She was given the privileged but daunting task of opening the event with a set of unaccompanied traditional songs and met the challenge with remarkable composure, winning over a host of new admirers. The programme was broadcast simultaneously by BBC4 and Radio 3. She also appeared on BBC2 on Christmas Day, singing the Coventry Carol in Howard Goodall’s ‘The Truth about Carols.
As well as a rich and true voice, Bella’s song-writing is also garnering acclaim. Three Black Feathers, written by Bella as a teenager and first recorded on Night Visiting was nominated for Best Original Song in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008, and has since appeared on Jim Moray’s award nominated album Low Culture.
On her latest album, Bella presents a selection of new works, including Sylvie Sovay, a modern look at the story of traditional song ‘Sovay Sovay‘. She is joined once again by a number of talented friends and colleagues including Anna Massie, Corrina Hewat and Chris Sherburn.
In The Shadow of the Mountains is a remarkably assured album from an impressive young woman who presents folk songs in the best tradition, not as antiquated museum pieces but as relevant and very human artworks.
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Have just enjoyed listening to the new song - Rosebud in June - from your forthcoming album. It's lovely! Very much looking forward to the new CD. Best wishes, Ian.
(Hi: enjoyed my visit, Bella, and hope to see you in Durham, in August.)
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Hi there really good to meet you on Saturday at Cambridge Folk Club - it was a great evening. Hope to catch up again sometime.(Maybe at Newcastle Uni?) All the best Kiss The Mistress
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