Ninebarrow
Ninebarrow
Saturday 18th November 2017
Lawns Hotel, Chellaston
NINEBARROW are a multi-award winning folk duo, who are impressing audiences across the country with their innovative and captivating take on the folk tradition. Described by Mike Harding as 'sounding damn fine' and by Kate Rusby as 'absolutely amazing' Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere combine breath taking vocal harmonies and melodies, delivering original songs that are inspired and rooted in the landscape and history of the British Isles.
As well as crafting unique and engaging original material, Ninebarrow also take a wide range of traditional folk songs and rework them in their own, distinctive way.
Not only exceptional singers and musicians, Ninebarrow are also equally passionate about the stories behind their songs combining their music with history, folklore and storytelling.
The duo were recently nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Horizon category for 'Best Emerging Artist' and also for 'Best Duo' in the Fatea Magazine Awards 2016.
Most recently, Ninebarrow's second album, Releasing the Leaves, was released to widespread critical acclaim. Recorded and produced in the duo's own studio and mastered by Mark Tucker (whose other credits include Show of Hands and Fairport Convention), the album received a raft of stellar reviews including five stars in both
Maverick Magazine and the English Dance and Song Magazine produced by the EFDSS.
Receiving airplay on national and regional radio stations across the UK, including the multiple plays on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show, it was described by Suzi Klein on BBC Radio 3 as demonstrating the duo's harmonies to perfection. It was also awarded four stars by The Telegraph and listed in the paper's Top Folk Albums of 2016, as well as featuring in several other Best Albums of 2016’ awards lists.
Following the critical acclamation that the duo have received, they've been in high demand and have been receiving bookings at a plethora of folk clubs, music
venues and festivals across the country. As well as headlining in their own right,
Ninebarrow have also provided support for some of the folk greats, including
Kate Rusby, Seth Lakeman, Show of Hands and Fisherman's Friends.
They were selected by Cambridge Folk Festival as one of five showcase artists in 2016 and were described by the festival as being a 'group destined for great things in the
future'. Engaging, charismatic and humorous, Ninebarrow are winning new fans
wherever they go. See them live, and you'll quickly understand why.
word and images courtesy of www.ninebarrow.co.ukinfluenced by his time spent in London, and the songs range from the slow and personal From the South Bank to Soho, which features exquisite viola work from Sam Sweeney, to the remarkable Drop the Bomb, which starts as a gentle ballad backed by the piano of Neil Cowley (of Adele fame) and ends as a furious electric guitar workout.’ ⭑⭑⭑⭑ The Guardian‘Sam Carter is a brilliant guitarist and songwriter who combines the observational with social comment and personal reflection’ ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Songlines ‘While How The City Sings is in no way a love letter to the capital, it is an engaging insight into how Carter’s decade spent living there has shaped him and his music’ ⭑⭑⭑⭑ EDS Magazine ‘…like one of his heroes Richard Thompson, Carter has the ability to enthral with just one climactic chord when he moves effortlessly into rock guitar mode and the jagged contrast with his softer side makes it all the more effective… he has such an abundance of natural talent, and you will him on all the way’ ⭑⭑⭑ fRoots ‘A singer who can hold the audience spellbound all by himself’ ⭑⭑⭑ R2 ‘How the City Sings presents a perfectly balanced blend of soft acoustics, upbeat rhythms and fiery rock. There’s no startling polarity, just a healthy and instantly appealing eclecticism that allows us to enjoy the wide spectrum of Sam Carter’s craft on one wonderfully engaging release.’ Folk Radio UK ‘A joyous statement from a master songwriter’ FATEA‘No longer is he the amiable befringed folk singer armed with a guitar and his take on a traditional song. He’s grown into a sharply aware (and sharply coiffured) observer and chronicler of the contemporary…a significant album: for Sam Carter, for 2016 and for folk music.’ Bright Young Folk ‘This is the sound of a man supremely confident in his ability to craft and shape both words and music’ folking.com ‘There are many flashes of beauty here’ Acoustic THE NO TESTAMENT ‘Throughout, Carter shows a maturity of purpose and achievement, building strong original work from the common tongue. Those who foresaw great promise in him are correct’Songlines ‘Three years on [from debut album Keepsakes] the exemplary musicianship is bolder, the vocal arrangements more striking… as penetrating as Richard Thompson’s best work’Uncut ‘Brilliant though [Keepsakes] was, The No Testament is a confident and reassuring step forward’R2 ‘…finely observed songs… well worth checking out’Guardian ‘Again, Carter holds court, killer script in hand, with a very British album that should be on your list’Guitar & Bass ‘[Carter] continues to combine present-day lyrical themes and his versatile folk-based approach with skill and ease’Guitarist ‘Full of energy and substance this is his most complete release to date’Spiral EarthKEEPSAKES ‘Keepsakes is a surefire collectible’Independent ‘One of the most gifted acoustic guitarists of his generation’Mike Harding, Radio 2 ‘A sophisticated blender of ancient and modern’Uncut ‘Tunes like Taxi and Captain could well be the work of a great songwriter in the making.’Guitar & Bass ‘He’s intriguing both because he’s an excellent guitarist and an original, distinctively English singer-songwriter, specialising in well-observed songs – and his debut album lives up to expectations.’The Guardian ‘There’s a cinematic quality to his writing enhanced by clever arrangements and the album’s melancholic intimacy indicates a talent developing quickly’Mojo ‘An English acoustic virtuoso… there’s a thread of bittersweet romanticism and cold realism that’s occasionally reminiscent of John Martyn, and like Martyn, his guitar parts may be complex and musically intricate but they serve the songs. Fans of acoustic music rejoice, the UK ‘s proud tradition of folk singer-songwriters is in safe hands.’Guitarist Virtuosity is not supposed to be rewarded in English folk music, for the reason that virtuosity is a vanity. But thankfully the virtuosity of Carter’s guitar playing does not obscure the careful narratives of his songs. So let’s briefly reward Carter anyway and then observe how his gravely observed songs and light voice are what we’re really listening to… …there’s real talent budding here.’**** Independent on Sunday ‘Deftly played and perceptively written, it’s a unassuming but quietly persuasive affair that can only serve to bolster Carter’s profile and reputation as it finds its way on to the folk albums of the year lists.’netrhythms.co.uk ‘I have a feeling, and I’m not alone, that Sam Carter is going to be huge. His excellent debut album Keepsakes displays talents of perception and a musical confidence that belies his age – it hardly seems fair that someone so young and with so much time to improve is already so damn good.’The Irish World ‘Strong personalities rarely shine through when dealing with singer/songwriters. Many anesthetize their songs by trying to satisfy a record company request or anticipate the zeitgeist. Thankfully, Sam has avoided any poisonous pitfalls, and developed his own harmonically rich language that’s unique to him and a gift to us.’Spiral Earth