Telling the Bees is a new/old collaboration between songwriter, Andy Letcher (mandolin, mandolute, pipes, vocals), Josie Webber (cello, vocals), Jane Griffiths (fiddle, vocals) and Colin Fletcher (bass).
Andy has played in various medieval folkedelic bands, including: Jabberwocky, Space Goats, Celtarabia, Paescod and The Steve Tyler band. He is also the author of Shroom: A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom.
Josie plays bass with funk-rockers, The Conscripts, and has played cello with Tiger Moon, Soma, Lisa Lindley-Jones and chanteuse, Zoe Bicat.
Jane, one of Oxford’s most sought after fiddle-players, currently plays with a host of acoustic artists, including Matt Sage and the Orchestra of Love, Australian songwriter Lisa Fitzgibbon and as one half of delectable folk duo Fletcher & Griffiths.
Colin is Oxford's hardest working bass player, currently working with Matt Sage, Simon Davies, Lisa Fitzgibbon and The Tim Van Eyken band. He is the other half of delectable folk duo Fletcher & Griffiths.
Influences
Harper, Martyn & Drake (of course), Vashti Bunyan, Comus, The Wicker Man, Tunng, James Yorskston, Chris Wood, English Acoustic Collective, Space Goats, Tribedelica, Gong, Hawkwind, Caravan, Circulus, Morning Star, Espers, Blowzabella, The Ozric Tentacles (oh yes, Treworgy Tree Fayre 1989, I was there), Steve Hillage, Kit Williams, The Golden Bough, Welsh Tea, the drone-based musics of the world, her outdoors.
Ooh, something like Primeval meets Tunng. On a dark night. After a heavy meal of mushrooms.
Or something.
Buy CD from CD Baby
Our debut album, 'Untie the Wind' is out now! It has already been described as: 'a significant event in English folk' by Folkwords
It's got original songs and tunes with heathenish leanings and a political bent. It's got mandolins and fiddles and cellos and double basses and English bagpipes.
Yup, that's right. English bagpipes.
We think you'll like it.
Follow the link above to buy it from CD Baby, or you can order it through our website.
Here's what people have been saying about us:
'One of the highlights of the Oxford Folk Festival' BBC Oxford
'Telling the Bees play a seriously tight set which goes down a storm' Colin May, Nightshift
'Lyrical, vibey...mesmerizing' Tim Healey, Oxford Folk Festival
'Wove such a gorgeous layer of sound that they brought the crowd to a full-blown psychedelic state' The Compass
Of Untie the Wind:
'A significant event in English folk' Tim Carroll, Folkwords
'Telling the Bees is more than whispering to the hives; this is a band that conjures hauntingly beautiful music - simple as that. The lyrics are pure poetry gliding over an intrigue of subtle impressive music that calls you to listen' Tim Carroll, Folkwords
'A great CD with some beautiful music. Get yourself a copy!' Genevieve Tudor, BBC Radio Shropshire Folk Programme
'recalls both early Fairport as well as Kris Drever...Andy Letcher's voice is softly resonant and adds a poetic edge to the flowery, occasionally psychedelic instrumentation. Of course the whole thing sounds like it's landed from some time around 1968, but, really, that only ups its appeal' Nightshift
We're still taking festival and gig bookings for 2008 so if you're new to us and haven't yet dipped your proboscis in the dark pools of our darkly crafted psych-folk nectar then do get in touch.
Here's what we look like in action (photos by Kate Raworth)
Here's some photos from our rural recording retreat at Bobbin Mill:
Three slide shows is probably excessive but here's some photos from our Exmoor recording session:
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..?
Hey Andy thanx for the add! Below is a hyperlink to one of my favorite bands... Railroad Earth... Unfortunately, I couldn't find the embedded version, but either way, its only a click away:-) Hope you enjoy... I've enjoyed the musical friends u have links to via your profile!
We are looking forward to seeing our friends next weekend (10th to 12th July) at Roger's Rant - a Dorset celebration of traditional & contemporary folk music, song and dance. There will be some of the best of local amateur singers and musicians as well as some from further afield. There is also the opportunity for aspiring singers and musicians to have a go in a friendly atmosphere at the Sports Club. The Village Hall will be used for the dance workshops on Saturday & Sunday afternoons, with a Ceilidh on Saturday evening.
Hi Andy et al, hope all's fine with you. I'm afraid it's shameless self-promotion time cos we need to tell your friends that our new album Lightbox is out now, available from http://www.womadshop.com/detail/522. Read a review at http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3fzf. Well, you have to do it sometimes, don't you? Cheers! love from Jon, Jane, Alex and Jase x x x x PS fancy doing a swap for one of yours??
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