The Keelers
Album: Tyne & Tide
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 20
Website: http://www.keelers.net

I was intrigued by this album as I had heard of The Keelers, but had not encountered their music. All of the band's members (George, Jim, Alan (Fitzy) and Pete) hail from the North East region (in some cases via Lancashire) and their music is deeply rooted in the local tradition. Initially they came together singing sea shanties in 1986 for the Newcastle Tall Ships Race and the rest, as they say, is History. Fast forward to 2013 and the sea shanties are still to be heard, alongside varied songs of the North East, especially pit and mining songs, reflecting the region's incredible history alongside its musical roots. Indeed, George is the father of fellow local singing sensations The Unthanks.

Alan is not only a great Tyneside voice, and one of the Northeast's greatest interpreters of traditional songs, he also has a great knack of putting fine tunes to songs and poems, as evidenced in his numerous conversions of Cicely Fox Smith's sea poems to song. Their latest CD, Tyne & Tide showcases no less than six of these songs, alongside fourteen others.

It is well worth a listen, for anyone interested in local music and history, or just in good, honest music, delivered with passion and conviction.

Helen Mitchell