7.30 pm Sunday 6 April at Urswick Recreational Hall
Church Road, Great Urswick, Ulverston, LA12 0TA
We are delighted to bring you the first of a series of concerts.
Rachael McShane is a renowned folk singer, cellist, fiddle and viola player from the North East of England. She gained fame as an original member of the award-winning folk big band Bellowhead, touring with them extensively and making a number of television appearances. The band recorded five studio albums and, together, they won a staggering total of 8 BBC Folk Awards. Parting ways in 2016, the band returned in 2022 for a series of ecstatically-received performances that reminded audiences of their unique alchemy, energy and talent.
She also is the leader of The Cartographers, a band that have garnered a loyal following thanks to their impressive live performances and critically acclaimed debut album, When All Is Still (2018).
Uncharted, the long awaited new album from Rachael McShane & The Cartographers is due for release 28 March 2025 and features the exceptional talents of guitarist Ian Stephenson (Kan, Baltic Crossing), and melodeon player Julian Sutton (Kathryn Tickell, Sting). Andy May (Andy May Trio, Jez, Lowe) joins them for a few numbers on piano and a host of friends from the folk scene add backing vocals along the way. Their music is a powerful blend of traditional folk and contemporary sounds, with Rachael’s stunning voice and instrumental skills leading the line.
The singing and playing on this new album really does shine. ’Get up Jack’ grabs your attention right from the start, leaving you torn whether to listen to the first track again and again on repeat or delve further into this refreshing take on traditional folk. It’s clear that Rachael McShane and the Cartographers have a real passion for traditional music and each song is given the love and respect that it deserves. ‘The Banks of Sweet Dundee’ and ‘Lady and the Sailor’ are uplifting and joyous, while their take on the classic ‘The Blacksmith’ and re-working of ‘Windy Old Weather’ allow for moments of calm. The tune sets ‘The Dusty Jigs’ and ‘Shivering Stone’ feature self-penned tunes and are played with expertise and sparkle, the band’s creativity and originality shining through on the arrangements throughout this exceptional album. Beautiful singing, and impressive instrumental playing along with innovative arrangements are abound on ‘Uncharted’, an album that’s destined to be among the best sounds in folk in 2025.
Away from her Bellowhead fame, Rachael is a much sought-after performer and recording artist. Her debut solo album No Man’s Fool arrived in 2009 via Navigator Records, establishing impressive credentials that eventually led her to signing with the prestigious Topic Records, the oldest independent record label in the world.
Tickets cost £16.00
Doors open 7.00 pm. The venue is not licensed so bring your own refreshments.
Here’s a sample: