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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

Wikipedia's entry on Bellowhead

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)

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DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.

Entry last updated 2017-10-17 22:03:14.
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