Sylvia Barnes: The Colour of Amber - new album out now and available on Greentrax Records CDTRAX314. The album features a range of songs from traditional ballads such as "Prince Heathen" and "Fair Annie" to a brace of Violet Jacob poems: "Baltic Street" and "The End o't", set to music by Carole Prior and Sandy Stanage respectively.
"The Colour of Amber" was recorded at Ian McCalman's Kevock Studios and produced by Sandy Stanage. It features Sandy on guitar along with Jennifer Wrigley (fiddle), Hazel Wrigley (piano, guitar) and Frank McLaughlin (pipes, whistle, guitar). It is released on 1st September on Greentrax Records CDTRAX314 and is available from all good record outlets. "You need great skill, wide knowledge and a deep love of your art to do this really well. Sylvia Barnes does it brilliantly!" - Sheena Wellington. "Sylvia Barnes has a superb scots singing style" - Norman Chalmers, Scotland on Sunday.
Sylvia’s pedigree in Traditional music is a long and distinguished one.
Together with her late husband Jim, she formed the vocal nucleus of the influential Glasgow band Kentigern, and was one of an elite group of female vocalists to sing the with the Battlefield Band, before moving to England in the 80’s. She fronted several bands during this time and continued to perform as a duo with Jim, becoming firm favourites with folk club and festival audiences throughout the country and abroad, and releasing a number of well received recordings.
She continues to be in demand as a solo singer, being a frequent guest at singing festivals in this country and in Ireland and was recognised as "Scots Singer of the Year" for 2006, an award sponsored by the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland. Among the very top flight of Scots singers, she is a dramatic performer with a wonderful voice. She can render passion, humour and gentle sentiment with equal ease and has been described as one of the finest ballad singers of her generation.
Her deep commitment to her songs and her involvement in them bring them to life in a way few other singers can achieve.
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..?
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 Sylvia Thanks very much for accepting our friend request.
We are re-launching our myspace to include more gig dates and news than it is possible to include in The Living Tradition magazine.
To keep up to date with news and gigs from around the UK folk music scene please subscribe to our BLOG and our FRIEND UPDATES on your myspace home — and don't forget to tell us what you are up to.
Lovely to hear from you!! Thank you again for a fantastic night at the Polish Club. I could have sat through the whole night all over again no problem! You and Sandy are just the best! Look forward to seeing you both again soon.
Hi Sylvia! At last we are back in touch! Lovely to meet you here & see you doing so well. Congratulations on your award & album. We hope you are well & happy? We love Orkney & have lived here 6 yrs now. As you can see I am doing more with my singing.Many of the photo's on myspace are from around our place.Orkney is v. beautiful..
Keep in touch & hope to see & hear you again some day soon... Love xJox
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace -
2 of 230, walkaboutsverse.741.com: 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.
It was so nice sitting next to you and sharing songs. Glad I baught your cd. These days we are listening to you and Maeve. Two different but great voices.
Thanks for the add, Sylvia. Talk about happy coincidence: I was playing the Kentigern album the other day for a friend, and lo and behold I come across you on Myspace. Your new album sounds wonderful -- best of luck in all your musical enterprises.
