Banter are: Simon Care on melodeon, Nina Zella on keyboards & vocals, Tim Walker on drums, percussion, brass, vocals & dance calling and Mark Jolley on bass, fiddle, guitar & vocals. Four fine musicians who’s roots are firmly in the traditional English genre, but who enjoy stretching the limits.
Formed in 2015, they realised that a common love for the living traditions of English song and dance music was at their core and began to pursue it’s evolution, bringing in flavours from a wider palette of musical influences.
They are now set to release their highly anticipated fourth studio album Heroes on 29 April 2024. As one of the most popular bands on the UK folk festival circuit, they are loved for their bold and innovative approach to traditional music. Now a fully fledged four piece collectively and individually Banter pay tribute to their personal and musical Heroes with this remarkable new album.
This new album showcases Banter’s impressive ability to not only rework traditional and contemporary material, but also compose original songs like thought-provoking sea tale Picking a Ship. The band’s version of Lay Me Low by John Tams has already been described by folk legend Martin Simpson as “Better than the original”. Similarly, Banter has breathed new life to Pete Coe’s classic, Rolling Down The Ryburn and JUNO Award Winning songwriter, David Francey’s Torn Screen Door. After recently sharing a stage with them, Ralph McTell described Banter as, “Absolutely fantastic! Beautiful harmonies”.
The other tracks on the album are a similarly engaging collection of both traditional and original songs and tunes that showcase the compositional talents of Banter’s creative powerhouse, Nina Zella. Most recently her voice has been compared to that of Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac by BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe.
The upbeat opening track The Oak And The Ash is set to be released as a digital single on March 11th 2024.
Following the release of the single, Banter will be taking the album on tour in the UK during March and April in the run up to the official album launch at Harmony Voyages’ Costa Festival in Ibiza.
Banter 2024 Tour Dates as Follows:
Heroes is available to pre-order now from this link: www.banter.band/shop/
