On their third album as a duo, Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts take English folk and scuff it up with indie rock drama, adding drums, bass and dobro to the mix. Traditional folk is going through a rare transitional makeover, and as part of a new generation of performers orbiting around the revived Albion Band, Gilmore & Roberts are at the forefront.
Ok, this is the third album from folk duo Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts who, in general, play fiddle and guitar retrospectively, both contributing vocals. Since their first release in 2008 they’ve steadily increased their fanbase, through impressive Radio 2 award nominations and nationwide tours alongside Fairport Convention, as well as performing in other much loved projects. I have to be upfront and say I am no fan of folk music. That is some sweeping statement, I accept, and genre is rather irrelevant these days anyway.
A reasonable body count, illicit relationships, an ineffective scarecrow and a cross dressing doctor, we can only be talking folk music and what folk music we're talking. "The Innocent Left" is the latest album that comes from the duo Gilmore & Roberts so you know it's going to come with a mark of quality.
Fans of Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts who already have the duo's first two albums will surely buy this third one, so any review of “The Innocent Left” has to be aimed at people who have not heard them before. Or for nervous fans who don't like to spend money until they're reassured that there's been no drop in quality.
For them, then ... stop worrying and get your money out!
I’m sat in a cow barn in Dorset with Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts sat opposite. The barn is transformed into a stage every year for the intimate Purbeck Folk Festival at which Gilmore and Roberts are to play along with running a fiddle and guitar workshop. Jamie’s face sparks into a big grin as he completes the final tune of their set for a Folk Radio UK session (coming this week) beating the sound check about to kick off behind us with the Old Dance School.
Dropping both first names as well as the now familiar 'Gilmore Roberts Records' growling record label number, the Barnsley-based duo join the ranks of Lau, Bellowhead and Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman at Navigator Records for this, the duo's highly accomplished third album.
The last time I saw Katriona Gilmore And Jamie Roberts, it was performing on Stage Two at the Cambridge Folk Festival, seeing them perform in the more intimate setting of the Square And Compass, the legendary 18th century Purbeck Inn that has in it's past played host to the likes of Augustus John, Astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell and Nobel laureates, Sir Alan Hodgkin and Sir Martin Ryle, was no less impressive.
"Up From The Deep" is the new album from a duo that will hopefully now be considered part of folk's premier league. Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts show that not only do they get folk, they have the talent and vision to move it forward. The songs and tunes on the album take from the past and drive into the future. Songs about modern lives, drinks, drugs and the damage done sit side by side with the story songs, ghosts and the supernatural, tales that are told around fires with friends and on train journeys. The playing and harmonisation about as good as it gets.
A welcome second album from this duo who seem to be destined for great things. The first half of 2011 looks set to be exciting for them as they support Fairport Convention on a 32 date tour, (29th January to 5th March 2011) followed by their own tour later in the spring (1st May-11 June 2011).
Up From the Deep contains arrangements of traditional material as well as original songs and tunes, all very much in traditional style. Katriona’s interest in bluegrass music also comes to the fore.
We're playing the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield this Saturday! We also have a NEW Birmingham Town Hall LIVE video to unveil later this week - here's the previous one if you missed it > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cof40t3a6Dw
Katriona had an awesome time guesting with Matt Berry & his band last night on the Leeds date of their Kill The Wolf tour - possibly more to come in the autumn!
Summer gigs update! We have just a few headline gigs left (Huddersfield, Chesterfield & Shrewsbury) before festival season kicks in for good - check out the dates on our tour page > http://www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/tour Tour | Gilmore & Roberts
Our new T shirts are now AVAILABLE ONLINE for just £10! They've sold so well on tour, we've run out of a couple of colour/size combos so get in there quick... http://www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/shop **Please specify SIZE & COLOUR in the 'order comments' box (at the bottom of the checkout page) when placing your order** Shop | Gilmore & Roberts
We're playing the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield this Saturday! We also have a NEW Birmingham Town Hall LIVE video to unveil later this week - here's the previous one if you missed it > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cof40t3a6Dw 
Still some T shirts left in ALL sizes (skinny to XL) at www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/shop - we think they'll be very popular at the festivals! 
Katriona had an awesome time guesting with Matt Berry & his band last night on the Leeds date of their Kill The Wolf tour - possibly more to come in the autumn! 
Summer gigs update! We have just a few headline gigs left (Huddersfield, Chesterfield & Shrewsbury) before festival season kicks in for good - check out the dates on our tour page > http://www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/tour 
Our new T shirts are now AVAILABLE ONLINE for just £10! They've sold so well on tour, we've run out of a couple of colour/size combos so get in there quick... http://www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/shop **Please specify SIZE & COLOUR in the 'order comments' box (at the bottom of the checkout page) when placing your order**