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Carthy, Hardy, Farrell & Young + Rachel Newton

Venue: Cecil Sharp House
Town: London
Date: 27/9/14
Website: http://www.rachelnewtonmusic.com/

One of my favourite London based venues to play in and to listen to others play in is the Cecil Sharp House. Its always a treat to me to visit this fortress of British folk music and dance and its even more of a treat when I get to hear fantastic music played there. Imagine my excitement to go and listen to the fabulous Carthy, Hardy, Farrell and Young supported by the virtuosic Rachel Newton.

Rachel Newton is a harpist, fiddle player and singer from Scotland and was joined on stage by Lauren MacColl on Fiddle and Mattie Foulds on percussion. The three musicians gelled as a well oiled trio with great ease. Newton's delicate yet robust voice accompanied by her extremely graceful harp playing are a marriage made in heaven but with the sounds of MacColl's full bodied Fiddle playing and Foulds' extremely tasteful percussion playing elevates the overall sound into pure otherworldliness. In terms of tune playing, it doesn't get much better than what was played on the night. I particular highlight was when Newton picked up her Viola to play a duet with MacColl, showing that she is more than proficient on just the harp.

After the interval, the main act came on to the stage. Eliza Carthy, Bella Hardy, Lucy Farrell and Kate Young are all, "Fiddle singers", and they delivered a set that ranged from the raucous to the intreverted. they kicked their set off with the song, "Greasy Coat", led by Kate Young. The tightly executed harmonies paired with rhythmic fiddle playing made for a punchy start to the next hour and a quarter. One of the things that made this quartet so likeable is the humour they brought to the platform. It was very clear to see that they were having a fantastic time on stage which made the whole experience flow.

Both the music and the venue were top class. I can't say more than that.

Matt Tighe

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