Bellowhead
Country of origin:
England
Type of music generally:
Traditional
Status:
Final release, Bellowhead Live: The Farewell Tour (live, 2016); most recent studio release, Revival (2014)
See also:
Bellowshead's site
Comparisons:
Imagined Village
Covers/own material:
Traditional
General comments:
English folk given a full blown, ramshackle, horns and strings, kinda Brechtian feel, with dashes of music from all over the world. (adamk@zoom.co.uk)Energetic, updated traditional folk—with brass! (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Any
Recordings:
- E.P.Onymous EP (EP, 2004)
- Burlesque (2006)
- Matachin (2008)
- Hedonism (2011)
- Broadside (2012)
- Revival (2014)
- Final release, Bellowhead Live: The Farewell Tour (live, 2016)
E.P.Onymous EP
Release info:
2004—Megaphone Records
Availability:
U.K.
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of updated, traditional folk
Group members:
Rachael McShane—cello, vocals
Giles Lewin—fiddle, bagpipes
Paul Sarton—fiddle, oboe
Benji Kirkpatrick—mandolin, bouzouki, guitar, banjo
Brendan Kelly—saxophones
Andy Mellon—trumpet
Justin Thurgur—trombone
Jon Boden—vocals, fiddle, bagpipes
John Spiers—melodeon, vocals
Peter Flood—percussion, cutlery
Produced by:
Robin Leggett, John Spiers, Jon Boden
Comments:
A five-track EP, three songs and two jigs/reels. All very lively and fun. I especially enjoy the versions of "Coshawholme Fair" and "Pricke-eye Bush," which don't seem to appear on their other recordings to date (2012). (Neile)
Burlesque
Release info:
2006—Westpark Music
Availability:
U.K.
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of updated, traditional folk
Group members:
Jon Boden—lead vocals , fiddle, tambourine
John Spiers—melodeon, anglo-concertina, backing vocals
Benji Kirkpatrick—guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, banjo, backing vocals
Andy Mellon—trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals
Justin Thurgur—trombone
Brendan Kelly—saxophone, bass clarinet, backing vocals
Gideon Juckes—sousaphone, tuba, helicon, backing vocals
Pete Flood—drums, glockenspiel, Stomp Box, frying-pan, knives and forks, party blowers
Rachael McShane—cello, fiddle, vocals
Paul Sartin—fiddle, oboe, backing vocals, megaphone
Giles Lewin—fiddle, bagpipes, backing vocals
Produced by:
Ben Mandelson and Rob Keyloch
Comments:
Lively, dramatic, full of fun and verve. One of those albums where you know that the participants are having a great time putting together their sound, and that makes it pretty irrestible. (Neile)A lavishly presented package, but a fun album. (adamk@zoom.co.uk)
Matachin
Release info:
2008—Navigator Records
Availability:
U.K.
Ecto priority:
Recommended for Bellowhead fans
Group members:
Jon Boden—lead vocals, fiddle, duet-concertina
Benji Kirkpatrick—guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, banjo
John Spiers—melodeon, Anglo-concertina
Andy Mellon—trumpet
Justin Thurgur—trombone
Brendan Kelly—saxophone, bass clarinet
Gideon Juckes—Helicon
Pete Flood—percussion
Rachael McShane—cello, fiddle
Paul Sartin—fiddle, oboe
Sam Sweeney—fiddle, pipes
Comments:
There are only two songs that I liked here, but I love these two: "Whiskey is the Life of Man" and "Bruton Town." (Neile)
Further info:
Bellow have released two DVDs in the U.K.: Hedonism Live (2011) and Bellowhead—Live At Shepherds Bush Empire (2009)
