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Originally from Suffolk, Issy and David
moved to Somerset in 2003, and have now settled very happily
at the foot of the Mendip Hills in Cheddar with their three
daughters Flora, Martha and Agnes.
Much of their material is original, but their style is
distinctly traditional. Accompanying themselves on melodeon,
guitar and bouzouki, with fine vocal harmonies and strong
arrangements, their audience is with them from the word go.
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Issy is an outstanding melodeon player.
Inspired to take up the box by the playing of Norfolk
squeezer Tony Hall, she has developed an unusually sensitive
and creative style “a delight to play with” John Dipper.
David’s guitar style was, he says, influenced by the playing
of one of his folk heroes, Vin Garbutt. But various elements,
not always folkie, of David’s eclectic taste in music can
also be detected in his distinctive and thoughtful
accompaniments.
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The
duo have recently been joined by brilliant cellist Kate Riaz.
Her exquisitely skilful and creative playing has proved the
perfect third dimension to an already successful duo.
Pete
Coe describes them as ‘a talented trio with fine songs and
tunes, well sung, good harmonies and excellent
accompaniments on melodeon, cello, guitar and bouzouki.”
"destined to become
important figures on the traditional folk scene, superb
songwriting, great singing and highly accomplished playing,
a perfect combination" Jim Tigwell, Priddy Folk
Festival
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Recordings
The three of them have just released their first album
together Legends & Lovers on the Wild Goose label.
"Another great album from
Wild Goose - really enjoyed listening to this one"
Folk Radio UK
Have a listen to
'The First of May'
,
John Simpson Kirkpatrick,
D. J.'s Jamboree or click on the Wild Goose logo to hear more.
Issy and David have recorded two previous albums. The first
one Sunflower in 2001, and the second Between the Downs with
Essex based band Sticks.
It’s
a collection of traditional and original songs and tunes
connected with Sussex and was put together to accompany an
extraordinary book about the A272 in Sussex- An Ode to a
Road. The book later inspired a TV documentary which
featured one of Issy’s compositions from the album ‘Dodging
the Turnpike’. |
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Issy
and David also have a great dance band RAPSCALLION
Catch Issy, David and Kate performing at various clubs
throughout the region, and at Swanage, Priddy, Sidmouth,
Chippenham and Bideford and Tisbury festivals later this year. |
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Compositions
Issy is acquiring a well deserved reputation as a composer
and song writer. Her tunes, whether straight dance tunes or
longer pieces that tell a story, are invariably ‘a bit
different’ with strong and beautiful melodies. Some of them
have been used for television. Her songs have a distinctly
traditional influence.
Often
inspired by historical events, there is usually a great
story attached! There are joyful chorus songs such as The
First of May and The Would-be Lover, enthralling stories of
death and injustice as in The Ballad of Anne Green, tragic
love songs as in The Shores of Loch Goil. There is the
little known story of a First World War hero in the song
John Simpson Kirpatrick, and powerful and moving
recollections of the foot and mouth crisis in The Skies
Turned Grey, now sung by John Kirkpatrick.
The South West has also been a constant source of
inspiration for Issy’s songs and tunes - Tripping to
Somerset, the haunting melody of Round House Hill, the true
story of Patrick Cotter captured in the song of The Bristol
Giant, and the powerful and beautiful ballad of The Man They
Couldn’t Hang are just of few of the locally inspired
pieces. |
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