Spiers & Boden new Album and UK Tour

By the time John Spiers & Jon Boden had hung up their highly regarded hats as the Spiers & Boden duo in 2014 they had earned a place in the hearts of the folk audience that few could rival.

Described by The Guardian as ‘the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’, Spiers & Boden first rocketed onto the music scene in 2001, quickly winning a clutch of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and went on to become one of the best loved duos on the English folk scene and beyond. John and Jon were also founding members of the pioneering and hugely successful folk big band Bellowhead, whose stellar career increasingly came to dominate their time. But now, after exploring solo projects, the duo is back with a brand new 13 track album ‘Fallow Ground’ plus festival appearances and a 23 date UK tour (including the Spiers & Boden Festival at Cecil Sharp House, London on 9^th October).

The title ‘Fallow Ground’ is not only a reference to the duo’s choice to put Spiers & Boden to one side for a time, but also, to the huge impact that the pandemic has had on live music.  The decision to return with an album in 2021 was made pre-pandemic and as a result ended up being recorded between lockdowns. It’s an album bursting with ideas as well as a new-found confidence to let the material speak for itself.

The songs and tunes selected for ‘Fallow Ground’ are overwhelmingly traditional – a clever mix of rambunctious melodies and contemplative ballads – and are the classic Spiers & Boden mixture of morris tunes, pieces brought back to the 21^st century from dusty manuscripts and, of course, a rare ability to conjure their own remarkable tunes.

A particular favourite of John Spiers is Funney Eye found in the 19th century manuscript of fiddler William Henry Giles of Bampton, Oxfordshire (of Bampton Morris fame). The tune was incomplete, so Spiers says he ‘used his intuition’ to finish it off.

Bluey Brink comes from the repertoire of Peter Bellamy and is the duo’s first foray into the world of Australian folk song. Butter and Cheese and All  is also from Peter Bellamy, although this version is Sam Larner’s and is also known as “The Greasy Cook”, “The Cook’s Choice” or more intriguingly “Cupboard Love.” The title track, also known as “As I Stood under My Love’s Window” or more prosaically “The Cock,” is an unusual traditional love song in that it’s neither boasting of “conquest” nor is it lamenting betrayal or abandonment – everyone enjoyed themselves! There are also original tracks, such as Bailey Hill / Wittenham Clumps – the first tune written by Jon, the second by John, both about hills which mean something to them; Giant’s Waltz / The Ironing Board Hornpipe inspired by the Giant’s Causeway and The Fog (written by John).

‘I guess we were looking for songs during lockdown with a sense of fun and light relief. I realise that there are zero songs about death on this album, which is probably a first and may get us expelled from the English Folk Dance & Song Society. Yes, traditional songs with a joyous edge’. Jon Boden.

Spiers and Boden’s Fallow Ground is released by Hudson Records on 17^th September 2021 with a performance at Gate To Southwell Festival on 5th September and then touring from 28^th September- 26^th October 2021.

Spiers & Boden – Comeback Tour – Sept/Oct 2021

September

 Tues 28^th St. David’s Hall, Cardiff

Wed 29^th Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan

Thu 30^th Redgrave Theatre, Bristol

October

 Fri 1^st The Regal, Tenbury Wells

Sat 2^nd Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham

Sun 3^rd Exeter Phoenix

Mon 4^th Cheese & Grain, Frome

Tue 5^th Komedia, Brighton

Wed 6^th Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms

Fri 8^th Revelation, Ashford

Sat 9^th FULL DAY The Spiers & Boden Festival at Cecil Sharp House, London

Sun 10^th Chipping Norton Theatre

Mon 11^th Nettlebed Village Club, Nr Henley on Thames

Tue 12^th The Corn Hall, Diss

Sat 16^th Hartlepool Folk Festival

Mon 18^th Colchester Arts Centre

Tue 19^th Cambridge Junction

Wed 20^th Pocklington Arts Centre

Thu 21^st Manchester Folk Festival

Fri 22^nd The Live Room, Saltaire

Sun 24^th The Music Room, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall *matinee and evening shows

Mon 25^th Rheolwr Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda, Bangor

Tues 26^th Aberystwyth Arts Centre

For further information visit  www.spiersandboden.com

For Gate to Southwell Festival information visit https://www.gtsf.uk/