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.
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.
Hi Sylvia, really enjoyed your contribution to the Dalriada Connections Concert at Campbeltown Heritage Centre. Great to hear Rantin' Rovin' Robin again but Prince Heathen was awesome - definitely a festival highlight!
Hello Sylvia, I love your singing, it's so lovely! I didn't know about your page here until Mick West directed me to have a listen, so glad I did! Thanks for adding me to your friends. All the best, Lori
Sylvia, great to hear you again at Celtic Connections. So so good as always. When is the new album ? Great to have you back in Scotland, see you soon I hope. Regards, KC
Thanks for the add, Sylvia!
I do agree with Mick West: you really deserved to be awarded 'Singer of the Year'. It was just high time!
I know your your wonderful singing since the B.B.'s times and 'Scotch Measure' is one of my fav albums ever.
Hi Sylvia. Thanks for the add. Saw you at the Gigha Festival last year and your set was just stunning. Hope there's an album in the pipeline in the not too distant! Hope to see you at MOK Fest in August. All the best for 2007, The Wild Sarachs, Campbeltown
Hi Sylvia,
Your tunes are great you have a good voice remember us when your rich and famous.
Weve been writing tunes with a new band see what you think http://www.myspace.com/rootsystemska
Were glad your happy with your garden.
Ronnie and Kevin
