News
Coracle will finally be officially launched on 22nd June with a live UK tour kicking off on 19th June. Today I'm excited to be able to reveal Marry Waterson's masterful video for 'Darkening Bell', Coracle's opening track, which is premiering on Folk Radio UK's site. Jarvis Cocker Played 'Borrowed and Blue' on his Sunday Service which made my week! It's about 1hr 44 min in - LISTEN HERE.
'A vivid tour de force of finely-crafted songs, Coracle is Emily Portman’s first entirely self-penned release that subtly spins together folk motifs with deeply personal reflections on motherhood and bereavement. Coracle shrugs off pigeon-holing and dances deftly between angular weird-folk and intricately-woven contemporary pop. Signaling an adventurous new direction for this critically celebrated singer, Emily treads fresh ground following the success of her BBC Folk award-winning release Hatchling.'
The Furrow Collective are on the road again, this time in the UK after a brilliant (and snowy) Germany tour...
Thanks to everyone who braved the dark nights and made our last tour of the year into a magic one. We’ve enjoyed trying out new songs on you and will be heading to the studio straight after New Year to sing off the Christmas pudding and make a new record! Here’s a sneak preview of our album photoshoot, created by the supremely talented Elly Lucas and Karen Le Roy Harris. It involved lying on a forest floor in midwinter but we hope you’ll agree it was worth it!
It’s been a year of firsts: My first ever solo voyage to Finland, the launch of The Furrow Collective, curating Outlandish Nights with Ali Roberts at The Kings Place, a lovely Women Folk Tour, a trio trip to Ireland and a Norwegian festival adventure with The Furrow Collective, singing with Eliza Carthy’s Arms Wide Orchestra…Not to mention learning how to write songs with a two year old in tow! In-keeping with my resolution to be brave and do solo gigs this year, my final concert of 2014 will be supporting Paul Smith (Maximo Park) & Peter Brewis (Field Music) at The Sage Gateshead on 20th December. The Furrow Collective will be starting 2015 with a tour of Germany and rehearsals for our next album. But first, here’s to a Merry Yuletide!
Thank you all for your support in 2014, it’s massively appreciated…Wassail!!
Emily x
The Emily Portman Trio are shortly to be (over)loading the boot with harp, fiddles, banjo, musical saw, concertina and our warmest woolies for our final tour of the year – we hope you can join us! We’ll be bringing you sparkling NEW music, alongside our favourites from Hatchling and The Glamoury – and we welcome requests.
I’m very pleased to announce The Emily Portman Trio will be making our first trip over to Ireland to play at the Earagail Arts Festival in Letterkenny, Donegal on 14th July. This will be followed by a Dublin Concert at the Odessa Club and Restauranton Tuesday 15th July. Buy Tickets HERE. We’re looking forward to crossing the Irish sea to play to a new crowd!
Happy Easter Everyone!
Myself, Rachel and Lucy are looking forward to returning to the South-West to air a few new songs and put some old ones to bed before the trio takes a little rest while I write for the next album, out in 2015. Egg-citing times! (sorry couldn’t resist!). Later in the summer the trio are coming to SHAMBALA FESTIVAL! The Furrow Collective also have a busy summer ahead, so hope to see you at some of the festivals listed HERE
Emily x
PS you can listen to my Spring-themed show on BBC Radio Merseyside HERE
Emily will present BBC Radio Merseyside’s long-running folk show on Sundays at 4pm.
Emily’s first radio show will be airing from 4-5pm on Sunday 6th and will introduce some current and all time favourites from her collection.
Emily is to take the reins from Geoff Speed, who has retired after 47 years of co-presenting Folkscene with Stan Ambrose. Stan and Emily will now present on alternate weeks, playing music from a range of local, national and international artists, with interviews and local folk news.
Musicians, promoters and listeners can suggest local listings, songs and artists to folkscene@bbc.co.uk.
Or write to :Emily Portman, BBC Radio Merseyside, 31 College Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 3DS.
Folkscene will be available on iplayer for a week following the show.
Emily’s next show airs on Easter Sunday and will play music with spring themes.
A mini-series co-curated by acclaimed songwriters Alasdair Roberts and Emily Portman, reflecting the darker and more leftfield elements in contemporary folk music. They are noted for their eloquent and literary take on song-writing, inspired by tradition – forging new and exploratory paths into rich new musical territories. Emily Portman, Alasdair Roberts and Debs Newbold told us about the upcoming feast of wordsmiths and wild and weird worlds... Outlandish Nights 27 - 29 March | Kings Place http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/ON Tickets from £9.50
I’m excited to announce that OUTLANDISH NIGHTS is drawing nigh! A mini series, co-curated by myself and Alasdair Roberts that runs at Kings Place from 27th-29th March. I am performing on 28th with The Furrow Collective and 29th with Mary Hampton and storyteller Debs Newbold.
The Furrow Collective is a brand new venture with Alasdair Roberts, Rachel Newton and Lucy Farrell and we are all excited to be touring our new album of trad songs in February! Our shiny website is now live! Here are the forthcoming dates:
I’m pleased to announce I’ll be performing in a triple bill alongside Emma Sweeney and Lucy Ward in a tour of the North in January and February. We’ll all be performing solo sets, so I’ll be dusting off the banjo and concertina and bringing out some new songs and arrangements, alongside some collaborative pieces. Hope you can make it!
30th January – Manchester, Band On The Wall
31st January – Clitheroe, Lancs., Clitheroe Grand
1st February – Stockton on Tees, ARC
2nd February – The Liverpool Philharmonic
6th February – Barrow on Furness The Forum
I am very excited to announce that I’ve won ‘Best Original Song‘ at the BBC Folk Awards! The song in question is ‘Hatchlings’, inspired by the myth of Leda and the Swan, a lullaby from Leda to her two sets of twins, hatched from eggs. It was a brilliant night and a highlight was when my 7 month-old daughter shook the hand of Alex Salmond! I’d particularly like to thank the musicians who played with me on ‘Hatchlings: Lucy Farrell, Rachel Newton and Lucy Deakin...And also thanks to everyone who comes to my gigs, supports my music and has given me encouragement over the years – it’s all MASSIVELY appreciated!!
Emily x
