Lady Maisery
Lady Maisery are an English folk vocal harmony trio composed of Hannah James (vocals, piano accordion, clogs, foot percussion) Hazel Askew (vocals, concertina, harp, bells) and Rowan Rheingans (vocals, fiddle, banjo, bansitar).
Lady Maisery | |
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Lady Maisery performing at Towersey Festival, 2018 | |
Background information | |
Genres | Folk |
Years active | 2011-present |
Labels | RootBeat Records |
Associated acts | Kerfuffle, Bellowhead, Hannah James and Sam Sweeney, Vannan James, Hell Said The Duchess, Askew Sisters, The Artisans, Fidola, The Rheingans Sisters, Songs of Separation |
Website | Official Website |
Members | Hannah James Hazel Askew Rowan Rheingans |
Lady Maisery sing traditional and contemporary folk songs as well as exploring the tradition of diddling or tune singing, which has nearly died out in England, but is still prevalent in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe. They released their first album, Weave & Spin in 2011, and their second, Mayday, in 2013. Their third album, Cycle, was released in October 2016
Name
Lady Maisery's name is based on one that appears in a number of traditional folk songs, most notably the Child ballad "Lady Maisry", but also "The Laily Worm & The Machrel of The Sea" (the former of these appears on their second album, Mayday).
History
In 2011, Lady Maisery released Weave & Spin and were subsequently nominated for the Horizon Award in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards,[1] and for Best Debut in the Spiral Awards.[2] The album was also made 'Album of the Week' in The Independent. In 2012 they were featured on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour [3] and in 2013 they have twice appeared on BBC Radio 3's classical music programme 'In Tune'.
In 2013, they released a charity download single to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March—a version of Kate Bush’s song "This Woman’s Work"--with proceeds donated to the charity coalition "End Violence Against Women".[4] This preceded the release of their second album, Mayday, which was launched in both London and Sheffield.
During 2013, Lady Maisery also gave a number of performances of "Rest",[5] a secular requiem, composed for them by Emily Hall and Toby Litt as the third in the pair's trilogy of song cycles. Performances included the National Portrait Gallery, London,[6] Spittalfields Summer Festival [7] and Deal Festival.[8]
All three members were part of the Songs of Separation project, which won "Best Album" in the 2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.[9]
Discography
Albums
- Weave & Spin (released 21 August 2011)
- Mayday (released 10 June 2013)
- Cycle (released 28 October 2016)
Singles
- "This Woman's Work" (released as a download single, 8 March 2013)
Reviews
Weave & Spin
- Bright Young Folk[10]
- Maverick Magazine[11]
- Spiral Earth[12]
References
- "BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Nomination 2012". Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "Spiral Awards Nomination 2012". Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- BBC. "Lady Maisery on BBC Woman's Hour". Woman's Hour. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- "Women's Day Single". Spiral Earth article. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- Emily Hall. "Rest". Rest. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "Rest at National Portrait Gallery, London". National Portrait Gallery London. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "Rest at Spittalfields Music Summer Festival 2013". Spittalfields Music. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "Rest at Deal Festival". Deal Festival. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "The Winners of the 2017 Folk Awards". BBC. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- "Bright Young Folk Review of Weave and Spin". Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "Maverick Magazine Review of Weave and Spin". Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "Spiral Earth Review of Weave and Spin". Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "Bright Young Folk Review of Mayday". Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "Financial Times Review of Mayday". Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "Folk Witness Review of Mayday". Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "For Folk's Sake Review of Mayday". Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- "Spiral Earth Review of Mayday". Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.