Wild Singing is a weekend festival of folk music inspired by the natural world for Kings Place’s year-long Nature Unwrapped series – Friday 13th – Sunday 15th March 2020.
Co-curated by Matthew Bannister’s award-winning Folk on Foot podcast, the weekend sees influential figures from the UK folk scene, Eliza Carthy, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan and Martin Simpson in evening concerts, preceded by ‘in conversation’ events with Matthew which will feature film and recordings made when he walked with the artists in the landscapes that inspired their music.
Daytime events including performances from environmentally-inspired artists The Rheingans Sisters and Kitty Macfarlane and projects The Songhive Project and The Wilderness Yet.
Evening Shows: In conversation & live performance
Eliza Carthy // Fri 13 Mar 2020 – 7.30pm, Hall One
One of the most influential figures in the UK folk scene, Eliza Carthy re-interprets the folk tradition for a new generation. Ahead of a live performance, Eliza will talk to Matthew Bannister about family, heritage and the link between her music and the vast expanse of beautiful ocean around her home in Robin Hood’s Bay. Their conversation will be interspersed with rare original footage from the podcast recording, of Eliza and her family singing around the kitchen table in Yorkshire.
Martin Simpson // Sat 14 Mar 2020 – 7.30pm, Hall One
Regularly voted one of the world’s greatest guitarists, Martin Simpson has been nominated for an astonishing 23 Radio 2 Folk Awards – and won artist of the year twice. In the first half, Martin will talk to Matthew Bannister and share film footage of the emotional visit they made to his childhood haunts in Scunthorpe where Martin’s passion for the natural world was fostered by his father on rambles through local woods. They scavenged for animal carcasses and Martin learned to stop, look and listen to what was around him. In part two, Martin Simpson plays old favourites and songs from his latest album Rooted.
Nancy Kerr and James Fagan // Sun 15 Mar 2020 – 7.30pm, Hall One
For twelve years, the award-winning singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Nancy Kerr lived on a narrow boat on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Wiltshire. In the first part of this evening, she’ll be in conversation with Folk on Foot podcast host Matthew Bannister about the effect that exposure to the travelling life had on the music she makes and her attitude to the natural world. You’ll see film footage, shot during the podcast recording, of Nancy playing and singing on the towpath. In the second part, Nancy and James Fagan will perform one of their “trademark high-energy live shows” (Folk Radio UK).
Daytime Concerts & Special Events
Matthew Bannister presents Folk on Foot on Film // Sat 14 Mar 2020 – 2.30pm // St Pancras Room
In this talk, broadcaster Matthew Bannister takes you behind the scenes of his award-winning podcast, Folk on Foot. He shares the many hours of film footage he’s shot while walking with top folk musicians in the landscapes that have inspired them; featuring Karine Polwart, Seth Lakeman, Cara Dillon, The Young’uns, Steve Knightley of Show of Hands, Eliza Carthy (and Family), The Unthanks, Martin Simpson, Julie Fowlis, Jon Boden, Nancy Kerr, Duncan Chisholm and more – often performing against spectacular backdrops.
The Rheingans Sisters // Sat 14 Mar 2020 – 4.30pm, Hall Two
Award-winning musicians, composers and folk scholars The Rheingans Sisters perform music from their critically acclaimed third album Bright Field, in which the natural world is the cathartic setting of many songs exploring our shared humanity.
The Shackleton Trio // Sat 14 Mar 2020 // Foyer event 6.30pm
This trio’s self-penned material blends seamlessly with imaginative re-workings of traditional folk standards, influenced by British, American and Scandinavian folk traditions, with a regional twist from the group’s native East Anglia.
Songhive – Beelore & Folksong in the British Isles with Rowan Piggott, Rosie Hodgson, Philippe Barnes & Tom Evans // Sun 15 Mar 2020 – 2.30pm, St Pancras Room
Songhive is a project founded by singer and musician Rowan Piggott, comprising songs of ‘beelore’ and folksong of the British Isles, to raise awareness of the current plight of the bees.
Kitty Macfarlane // Sun 15 Mar 2020 – 4.30pm, Hall Two
Kitty Macfarlane is a songwriter and guitarist from Somerset, whose music is rich with visual imagery and written with an eco-eye.
The Wilderness Yet // Sun 15 Mar 2020 // Free Foyer event 6.30pm
The Wilderness Yet weave a tapestry of traditional & self-penned songs with a charm and familiarity that is usually only found in seasoned line-ups.
Last few tickets available here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/wild-singing-nature-inspired-folk/