After a far too long career which included performing with Roy Wood, recording with Charlie Landsborough and doing Dickens with the Royal Shakespeare Company, interspersed with being the resident guitarist at Ronnie Scott’s, Steve decided to taste fear and formed Whalebone with Charlotte.
Charlotte Watson
As well as being an integral part of Whalebone (50% actually) Charlotte joined Steve in backing a variety of scary singers, some of whom are still talking to them.
Sarah Ibberson
Sarah has played in a range of musical styles from orchestral to backing all female morris dancers before seeing the light and joining Whalebone, becoming the third member of the duo....
Influences
Led Zeppelin, Richard Thompson, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Strange Sensation, Bert Jansch, Flook, Davy Spillane, Fairport Convention,
Sounds Like
2 guitarists and a fiddle player
OK, if that's a bit vague, and you like what you can hear on the Myspace Standalone Player, you could check out the mini ipod player below or the Whale Shop where you can purchase CD's.
The Myspace Music Player can't hold some of our tunes, the file sizes are too large, so we've added a small player below to play some of the live tracks that are on the new live album 'Rootsy...Funky...live and Funky...' Make sure the Myspace Standalone Player is paused and click the play button on the mini ipod below on the track you want to listen too.
The first track Two Wild Women is the long version that we play, it starts slowly but kicks off after a couple of minutes. The second track is September Reel, another original track that's punchy and lively and somehow seems alot longer when we play it! Turns out it's only a couple of minutes long. The final track on the mini ipod player is our version of a couple traditional tunes that we play together, the first is Tenpenny Bit, reputedly about women of a certain kind that would only cost 10 pence... And the second tune is called Rakes of Kildare, written about the kind of chaps that would maybe up for spending 10 pence. Hope you like them.
Whale Shop
Click on the albums below to order via Paypal using a credit or debit card. £1.50 postage and packaging to mainland UK on all orders.
Rootsy... Folky... Live & Funky... £10
Our new live album! Released March 2009 and recorded at Cinnamon in June 2008, this is the Whalebone live album. Three of the tracks can be heard on the mini ipod player above.
Click on the album cover below to pay using Paypal
Track Listing
King of the Faeries
Piper's Weird
Mouse
Sultans of Swing
September Reel
Sheikh
Time of Your Life / River Spirits / Come to Dance
Tenpenny Bit / Rakes of Kildare
Travelling Song
Two Wild Women
Red Haired Boy / Mason's Apron / Devil Amongst the Tailors
There to Here £10
Click on the album cover below to pay using Paypal
Track Listing:
Carry Me Home
Can't Stop the Tide
Arley Barley
Waiting for the Sun
Devil's Chair
On the other side
Two Spirits
I'm not awake yet
Lost Days
Dreamstate
Special Bundle Offer £15
If you're undecided on which album to go for...why not opt for both? You can order 'There to Here' and 'Rootsy...Folky...Live and Funky...' for £15 including postage and packaging. Just click on the album covers below to pay through Paypal. COMING SOON!
Quotes
Peter Wooldridge - Shropshire Woman Magazine 2008
‘A band of enormous skill and presence... Together they produce melodic and highly attractive music... Free spirited, fast and funky, you can’t see the join where trad meets mod... Highly recommended.’
Barrie Jones - Green Wood Summer Music Festival 2008
‘It’s hard to imagine Whalebone not setting feet tapping (at the very least) wherever they might be playing... With their deliciously eclectic mixture of folksy - rootsy - worldly -type music Whalebone are slick enough at what they do to be taken seriously and loose enough to be having so much fun with it that their enthusiasm never fails to rub off on anyone fortunate enough to see them play! Professionalism and a good time! - Rare mix... Recommended..!’
With a sound that hints at Fairport, Flook and acoustic Led Zep without the vocals, Whalebone’s music is a marriage of folk music and classic guitar rock played on acoustic guitars and fiddle, combining upfront spellbinding musicianship, infectious driving rhythms and exuberant presentation. The trio’s performances feature fiery and emotive original material, supercharged renditions of traditional music and wild re-workings of rock guitar classics played with dazzling virtuosity.
If you would like to be on our mailing list and receive our monthly newsletter 'Whalemail' which will keep you informed and updated on what we are up to including gigs, workshops and Steve jokes... please email
whalebone-music@tiscali.co.uk
YouTube
We have some clips on YouTube of a concert staged in Oswestry. Many thanks to Ian and Sue from Arigatovideo for filming us! Just click on the play buttons below after pausing the Music Player above. We have only posted two of the videos, we didn't want to put all of them on so our page took ages to load. To view the other tunes visit the YouTube website and search the other tunes posted:
The Gathering
King Of The Faeries
September Reel
External Links
Chorley Show
Featuring a host of attractions - including Pig Racing alongside the main ring - Chorley Show is a really enjoyable day out for all the family. It is taking place on August 16th and Whalebone will be playing throughout the day with local traders providing a spot of ‘retail therapy’ in the market area. See www.chorleyshow.co.uk/ for more details.
Folkwit Records
Folkwit is a genre-specific social networking site for artists, fans, music bloggers, podcasters etc and friends. Here you can share music and images, interact with your favourite artists and much more. Sign up - have fun! Click on the link below to access the site:
Made in Shropshire is a collaboration of artists, designer-makers and food producers who live or work in Shropshire. Exhibiting a wide range of inspirational products and produce including ceramics, textiles, jewellery, artwork, photography, glass, wood, food and drink, the group has rapidly established a reputation for high quality work with a unique edge. Whalebone play at a few events held throughout the year. See www.madeinshropshire.co.uk/ for more details.
Farmer Phil's Festival 2009
This really is a "family friendly" festival.... There's Food & Drink available on site, Flush Toilets, Licensed Bars, 'Kids Corner' & 'Quiet Family area' Jester Jack Entertaining the children, circus shows, workshops. Marquee - Free to play !Face painting & fun ! Crafts, Drawings, Games, Painting, Stories & More ! www.farmerphilsfestival.co.uk
Just wanted to say a big thanks to you for your lovely interview on my show yesterday evening; it'll be repeated on Thursday evening midnight into 2am Friday morning - you'll be on between 1 and 2am Friday AM.
We had some real positive feedback from the tracks - I played 'Mouse' and 'Two Wild Women'...
Hope to see you soon - will venture to a gig in Shropshire very very soon.
Sarah Steve Charlotte! thank you so very much for making the trip over to Wulverplankton and playing for us at Bantock! It was an absolute pleasure and honour to have you guys playing - you're always utterly enthralling and one of the few bands that guarantee a great time! You really set the day up a treat! We'll give you a buzz soon as there's owt else going on.. look forward to seeing you again soon.. again, many thanks.. Barrie, Stu and the Jamplant
hey steve, emily and i have been listening to your tracks this evening to get some tips for the forthcoming recording session! emily loves "king of the faeries". catch you soon, rob and emily
Thanks very much for becoming friends with The Living Tradition.
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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. All the best The Living Tradition Team
Hey guys, It was lovely to speak to you the other night,was it Steve I spoke to.?,really glad you enjoyed the music,and hope to be able to play for you sometime in the near future,also ive just posted some tracks from the gig on saturday night,have a listen when you get chance.
Thanks for the add. Was also at the gig in Bishop's Castle on Saturday and wanted to let you all know that it was a great night. Although, as you said, pubs provide a much more relaxed atmosphere, the sound quality on Saturday was REALLY good which showcased the talent that the three of you undoubtedly have. Hope to see you again.
This years festival is headlined by Billy Bragg (Friday), Seth Lakeman (Sunday) and Peatbog Faeries (Saturday) with many more top artists also performing.
Online Now!
