Tim van Eyken, Nancy Kerr, Oliver Knight, Colin Fletcher, Pete Flood
Influences
Colin Fletcher, Pete Flood, Nancy Kerr, Olly Knight, Robert Harbron, James Fagan, Jane Harbour, Jon Hunt, Alex Vann, Paul Sartin, Benji Kirkpatrick, Colin Cotter, Watersons and Carthys, Phil Tanner, Fred Jordan, Packie Manus Byrne, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Andy Cutting, Tom Waits, John Leventhall, Spiro, Tim Eriksen, Damien Rice, Gustav Mahler, Balkan Beatbox, Paul Simon, Martyn Bennett, Kimmo Pohjonnen, La Bottine Souriante, Will Duke and Dan Quin, Rufus Wainwright, Dresden Dolls, Warsaw Village Band, John Kirkpatrick, Dolly Parton, The Muppets, Ola Backstrom, Nick Drake ..........
Sounds Like
An amalgamation of all the influences with bells and whistles. Pretty, heart-wrenching, happy, grotesque, camp, lilting, trashy, tidy, folky, ragged.
I've spent the last five, very enjoyable, years touring various parts of the globe with Waterson:Carthy and Dr Faustus and now I gots an irrepressible urge to realise some of my own stuff too. Some very lovely people indeed agreed to help me do this, (Pete, Olly, Nancy, Colin). Not only lovely but inventive and inspiring and apparently limitlessly talented. It all started with our first album "Stiffs Lovers Holymen Thieves" (which got four nominations at the BBC Folk Awards this year if you'll pardon me blowing my own trumpet for a second), and we've been working hard ever since. After a good run of gigs Nancy is going to be departing after Towersey to concentrate on her stuff with James Fagan (See www.kerrfagan.com) and we will be welcoming Jackie Oates in to the band. We've got a new ablum in the pipeline, but after Sidmouth and Towersey we won't be out as a band again until next year coz I've got a part in Warhorse at the National Theatre. But I will be doing the odd gig here and there on my own so keep checking the dates. Here's the official line:
"One of the most intuitive musicians of his generation" THE TIMES
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"Tim van Eyken of Waterson:Carthy and Dr Faustus fame moves centre stage to re-ignite his solo career. A new deal with Topic Records and a long awaited album herald the arrival of a major new name on the folk scene. "Stiffs Lovers Holymen Thieves sees him slipping from traditionalism into the ghostly hinterland occupied by the likes of Alasdair Roberts and Will Oldham, where folk formalism meets the eerie textures of modern electronica to bring out the mix of death, lust, religion and hedonism that lies at the heart of folk." - James Eagle
THE MORNING STAR
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"Tim van Eyken, who has spent several years with the Waterson:Carthy entourage, delivers a clarion call for tradition on his second solo album. Its eleven songs are, in Van Eyken’s words, ‘bound together by generations of story singers”, and his rich tenor maintains that heritage in impassioned style, while his band provide spare, melodic backings. The songs, by turns jaunty, tragic and romantic, eloquently tell the human story behind the England flag, bright May morns, dark deportations and all. A triumph." - Neil Spencer
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..?
Hearty thanks for your friendship and sweet music. You're an accomplished musician and owner of a marvelous country voice. I enjoyed hearing out your repertoire, all the tunes are far-out, however your song "Australia" has simply knocked me out. Hope you can also find any interest in my provincial music, check it out and send me your kind comments. Please, accept my musical embrace and lots of sunshine from Brazil,
Mercurius Company are presenting a celebration of Purcell's 350th Anniversary, in a fully staged performance of some of his most inspired music, including excerpts from operas and incidental works. With period instruments, costumes and dance.
This is a totally independently produced and funded. Let's show all that despite economic uncertainty, financial crisis and turmoil there are people who still dare to dream and produce something exciting and inspiring.
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.
Tim! It's flagrant self-promotion time! Spiro's new album Lightbox is out now and available from the Womad shop, http://www.womadshop.com/detail/522. Read a review at http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3fzf. Hope you're splendidly well dear Tim and hope to catch up with you some time, all the best from Jon, Jane, Alex and Jase x
Have a break from football and come dance instead.
We're playing at the Spiegel tent on Bath rugby ground (the Rec)
They'll be videos as well and we'll be playing new songs from the album "Beyond the forest" as well as old favourites.
You can hear clips on our website (www.baka.co.uk) and we've put a couple of live tracks on our Myspace page.
One Love!
Online Now!
