Folk festival favourites Blackbeard’s Tea Party have announced the release of their fifth studio album.
Titled ‘We Are People’, the new record is due for release in September 2024. The tracks on the new album will explore the past and the present to ask what it means to be British in the 21st Century – from personal, political and, of course, piratical perspectives. The album release will be accompanied by a 16-date tour starting in October (See Dates below)
Blackbeard’s Tea Party are known for their contemporary interpretations of traditional material, with heavy guitar riffs, playful arrangements and driving dance rhythms. They draw on influences from across the spectrum of rock, pop and world music. Since they began busking on the streets of York in 2009 they have become stalwarts of the folk scene, regularly appearing at Towersey Festival, Folk East, Sidmouth Folk Week and many more.
Here’s a taste of their mayhem, don’t be fooled by the gentle (but very clever) start to this performance!
Commenting on the album release, lead singer Stuart Giddens explained that this record is something of a departure for the band:
“We’ve brought original compositions to the fore and there are fewer traditional songs than on previous Blackbeard’s Tea Party records. There’s a long tradition in folk of writing songs that reflect on the present as well as the past, and we’re drawing on that tradition for the new album. In the past few years the country has been shaken by huge events like Brexit, the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and the rise of populism, and the new tracks aim to document our personal experiences of these events. It sounds quite serious, but it’s still fun and cheeky. Like all our music, there’s a knowing twinkle in the eye, and we still aim to get you up dancing.”
‘We Are People’ Tour Dates:
Fri 4 Oct 2024 Reeth Memorial Hall Reeth, North Yorkshire
Fri 11 Oct 2024 Greystones Sheffield
Sat 12 Oct 2024 Ropery Hall Barton-Upon-Humber
Wed 23 Oct 2024 Red Lion Folk Club Birmingham
Thu 24 Oct 2024 West End Centre Aldershot
Fri 25 Oct 2024 The Acorn Penzance
Sat 26 Oct 2024 Ragged Bear Festival Nuneaton
Fri 1 Nov 2024 Lowdham Village Hall Nottinghamshire
Sat 16 Nov 2024 Reepham & Cherry Willingham Village Hall Lincoln
Sun 17 Nov 2024 The Stables Milton Keynes
Fri 22 Nov 2024 Victoria Hall Settle, North Yorks
Fri 29 Nov 2024 Otley Courthouse Otley
Sat 30 Nov 2024 The Musician Leicester
Sun 1 Dec 2024 Alexander’s Chester
Fri 6 Dec 2024 The Crescent York
Sat 7 Dec 2024 John Peel Centre Stowmarket
For further information please visit: blackbeardsteaparty.com
