As a trio it's me (vocals, guitar, tenor guitar and shruti box), Steven Polwart (guitars, vocals) and Inge Thomson (accordion, vocals, percussion). Sometimes I also bring along Kevin McGuire (double bass, vocals), Mattie Foulds (drums, percussion), Kim Edgar (piano, vocals) and/or Jenny Hanson (violin, viola, vocals).
Scots songwriter Karine Polwart combines the economy and universality of the folk storytelling tradition with a probing intellect and compassionate lyricism. Twice winner of “Best Original Song” at the UK-wide BBC Folk Awards, she’s collaborated with alt folk balladeer King Creosote, the intellectual maverick of English folk song Chris Wood, Idlewild front man Roddy Woomble, bluegrass ace Tim O’Brien, not to mention unexpected guest appearances with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and dub-reggae legends Sly and Robbie. None of which you'd expect from a lass who grew up in the Stirlingshire village of Banknock.
Following the breakthrough success of her debut album “Faultlines”, and its lush 2006 successor ”Scribbled in Chalk”, Karine released two albums on her own micro label, hegri music, the stark and intimate trad balladry of 2007's "Fairest Floo'er" and her 2008 bittersweet collection of original songs “This Earthly Spell”.
Karine is one third of the sparky female vocal harmony trio Grace, Hewat, Polwart and one eighth of the joyous Scots-Canadian, multi-headed musical creature The Burns Unit (in which you might even find her playing drums ...)
Off the road, Karine is likely to be found tramping the roads and fields near the home in Southern Scotland, which she shares with bandmate, producer and partner Mattie Foulds, singing to herself and her wee son Arlo and looking for bullfinches and herons.
Welcome to My(wee)space
Welcome, welcome to my wee musical corner of Scotland. There are more myspace users out there than there are people in Britain, so it's a small miracle that you've landed here. Thanks for following your nose. I look after this space myself as a touring musician and mum to a small and beautiful boy, so please try to bear with me if you send me a friend request or message and I don't reply instantly (or even if a week or two goes by, or indeed by some quirk you never hear from me). I try my best but there is no hidden web-team and it takes more than just a minute or so ... and sometimes a word or two slips through ... But hey walking slow in this world is no crime, eh? Anyway, hope you enjoy the view from wherever you are.
THE BURNS UNIT
“a canny ability to blend disparate styles: from tender odes to serendipity...to jacked-up carnival rock; from MIA-esque melodica-backed protest song to a sinister, bloody ballad - the band fuse their contrasting talents and leave no signs of suture or ego” (The Skinny)
“a passionate, perceptive songwriter” (Uncut 2008)
“exceptionally subtle and melodic” (Q 2008)
"takes the heart to places few singers even know exist" (WORD 2008)
"righteous and beautiful" (MOJO 2006)
"grippingly understated storytelling" (THE TIMES 2006)
"DJ Monkey …soul-stirring, excitingly edgy music…just disturbing (read ‘mind-f**king’) enough to demand attention. There is a whole spice rack of auditory flavors here, served up like fractured poetry on a collection of intensely listenable Hallmark cards from Hell." Bill Margold, Cinema Seen, L.A. X..Press
THANKS FOR THE FRIENDSHIP & SUPPORT, IF YOU GET A CHANCE, STOP BY MY SITE AND GIVE A LISTEN AND WRITE A COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THINK. BEST WISHES, MICHAEL
THANKS FOR THE FRIENDSHIP & SUPPORT, IF YOU GET A CHANCE, STOP BY MY SITE AND GIVE A LISTEN AND WRITE A COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THINK. BEST WISHES, MICHAEL
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
hello hello! just got back from my travels and thought I would drop a little note to say how much I enjoyed coming up to see you and have a play the other week. hope all is going well with the tour plans. Speak to ya soon! rosie x
Karine Polwart track 'Maybe There's A Road' to be aired on Merlin's Magical Music Moments; Wednesday 7th October 2009. Live on air on Soundart Radio 102.5 fm 20.30 - 22.00 pm GMT. Tonight we re-vist the fabulous Shrewsbury Folk Festival held over the August Bank Holiday. The full play list is now up on my blog.
To listen live follow the link @ www. soundartradio. org. uk
Greetings! I Have Lost My Voice And Gone Deaf In One Ear But Still Dragged My Sorry Ass To The Fruitmarket....The Howls From The Balcony Were From Me. Great Gig As Ever; I Remember Hearing A Song You All Sang At The End Being Done By Rachel Unthank When She Supported You Last Year. It's About Being Blind Drunk. You Should Have Dedicated It To Me :) xxx
OMG! I AM SO EXCITED! I just got your mailing list email about your upcoming gigs, expecting them all to b anywhere but near me, and then i saw you were playing in coventry and i was soooooo happppy!! I just put the albums on to celebrate!!
was hoping ya mite check out some chav punk!! haha if ya do like us and your on facebook , please hook us up on there too, ull find the link to it on our homepage.. Hope youve got some exciting stuff happenin... ;) Rock on, The Kayas x
This week is a momentous week for Trail. We have released a track from our upcoming album "To The Rest of The World" called "Prism". It is now available via iTunes, Amazon and via SMS (in the UK).. All the details are on our profile page. We are obviously working hard to get up as high as possible in the UK music charts so any help would be very much appreciated!
We also have our first official music video, check it out on our page or go direct to youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfzeouKucys
Please let us know what you think fo the vid and single and thanks for your continued support for our music!
I GOT BLOGGED! take the time to swing by to look over Jason's photography. google it: "Photo Communique" on BlogSpot. It's a great collection. He does impressive work. Drop him a comment and say I sent ya haha. TKS.
btw: did you check out "ANYMORE" yet? It got released as a single. The whole damn thing hits iTunes in a few weeks. "CAPTAIN KIRK and the BEAUTY QUEEN" - PEACE~ JP
