The Press Release announces Matachin, is the much anticipated 2nd album form Bellowhead. Set to hit the shops on 22nd September this is a magnificently murky and rum sodden collection of 11 traditional and original songs from an 11 piece band who defy easy categorisation.
"The Sound of 44 limbs in pursuit of countless more possibilities." - The Times.
Not many bands would have the courage to embrace this staggering range of songs or manage them with such enthusiasm and skill. But be advised, Matachin, is not for the faint hearted. There are no whimsical maidens or gentle stories of love gone wrong. Instead you'll get dragged along on an exhilarating journey filled with Cholera,whiskey,the high seas and the Cold War.
A truly collaborative affair Matachin is a self produced album, which also bares the distinctive stamp of each of its highly accomplished band members. It is the follow up to Bellowhead's debut album,
Burlesque, which was praised from the rafters on its release in 2006 and became one of the Guardians top 1000 albums to listen to before you die.
Often described as a folk big band, the Bellowhead collective are much more than that. Blending folk, rock, ska, jazz, soul and world music influences with dashes of English Music Hall and cabaret, between them, the 11 musicians play more than 20 instruments, six of them sing and their arrangements are already stuff of legend.
Winners of numerous BBC Folk awards including an unparalleled 3 for Best Live Act, they were recently announced as Band in Residence at London's prestigous Southbank Centre.
Although they have only been in existence for a few years, Bellowhead have an ever increasing fan base including high profile fans who range form America's West Coast Red Hot Chilli Peppers to the Midland's Frank Skinner.
Bellowhead are:
- Jon Boden - Fiddle and vocals
- John Spiers - Melodeon
- Andrew Mellon - Trumpet
- Justin Thurgur - Trombone
- Brendan Kelly - Sax, Bass Clarinet
- Gideon Juckes - Tuba, Sousa
- Pete Flood - Percussion
- Rachael MCShane - Cello, Fiddle
- Paul Sartin - Fiddle ,Oboe
- Sam Sweeney - Fiddle, Pipes
- Benji Kirkpatrick - guitar, bouzouki,mandolin,banjo.
Bellowhead website
Navigator Records
