Eliza Carthy MBE, the singer and fiddler who most embodies the dynamism and vitality of the contemporary English folk revival, will be performing at the Harrow Music Festival on Saturday 25thApril. The Festival, spanning 4 evenings, takes place in St George’s Church and St George’s Hall, which face each other across Pinner View.
Born into a formidable musical dynasty, Eliza grew up steeped in the folk traditions of England. Her mother Norma was one of The Watersons, whose tight harmony arrangements of traditional songs became one of the defining sounds of the 1960s folk revival.
Her father, Martin Carthy, is a hugely significant singer and guitarist, who influenced the likes of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. Championed from an early age by the likes of John Peel, Andy Kershaw, Billy Bragg and Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, Eliza Carthy has rarely stood still artistically.
From the purest unaccompanied traditional songs to original music incorporating myriad influences, she has moved through English folk music like a force of nature, both stirring it up and putting it back on the map through television, radio, live performance and studio recordings.
Eliza’s musical knowledge and ability is also well respected outside of the folk world: she has been a judge at both the Q Awards and the Ivor Novello Awards, and in 2005 co-presented the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards with Benjamin Zephaniah.
Her achievements have been acknowledged with numerous BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, two Mercury Prize nominations, and in 2003 she was the first English traditional musician to be nominated for a BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music.
See Eliza Carthy performing at St George’s Church in 2014 here –
Eliza will be joined on stage at St. George’s Hall by guitarist David Delarre. David is very much in demand as a session guitarist. Through his work with the group Mawkin, David has toured the UK and Europe, performed for BBC Radio 2, 3 & 4 and has most recently recorded a live session for Jools Holland for BBC 2 and ITV.
Festival events kick off on the evening of Thursday 23rdApril – St Georges Day – with the vibrant Harrow Concert Band playing a programme of English Music. On Friday evening Punita Gupta and friends celebrate the centenary of Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar. The Festival concludes with Festal Evensong on Sunday 26th sung by St George’s professional and scholarship choir.
Tickets for the concerts available here
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/st-georges-headstone-29567236935
https://www.facebook.com/harrowmusicfestivalHMF/
(Article Credit: Harrow Music Festival)
