The Kittiwakes
The Kittiwakes are Kate Denny (vocals, fiddle), Chris Harrison (accordian) and Jill Cumberbatch (fiddle, mandolin, guitar).This talented English trio have been playing UK folk clubs and festivals since 2007, impressing audiences with their exciting live performance and unique sound. Last November they released their widely acclaimed debut album ‘Lofoten Calling’ - described as 'Impressive and uniquely compelling.' by FRoots and 'A wonderfully bright and highly original debut.' by BBC Music Online.
From shanty-inspired rousing tunes, through intricate three-part harmonies and finely arranged, haunting, Winterset-esque songs, ‘Lofoten Calling’ displays an acute sense of what's at the heart of the British folk tradition and brings it sailing into the 21st century with an honesty and playfulness that is at once enchanting, touching and irresistible.
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'Absolutely wonderful. I cannot recommend highly enough catching them live if you get the chance' - Folk and Roots Online
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'The Kittiwakes (rissa tridactyla): delicious, intriguing and evocative music, beautifully played and sung by this talented trio. Recommended to twitchers and lovers of folk music alike' - Paul Collier, Leigh Folk Festival
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'The Kittiwakes craft timeless and magical acoustically dappled folk treats - gentle and alluring ostensibly Gaelic in sound texture and gorgeously flighty braided as they are by corteges of mandolins, accordions and violins.' - Losing Today
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Their debut album, ‘Lofoten Calling’, is that rarest of breeds: a folk concept album. Unlike a lot of concept albums, ‘Lofoten Calling’ is concise and never feels like the music is being restricted by, or bogged down amidst the themes. Song-based, the stories being spun here add a poignancy and humanity to the proceedings, with the emotive music (firmly set in the traditional style) providing the perfect foil.
Bathed by the gulf stream waters and the 'Aurora Borealis', theLofoten Islands are home to an ancient Viking culture and fishing industry. ‘Lofoten Calling’ is original music based around the people, landscape, folklore and history of the islands - an area above the Arctic Circle in Norway. A true labour of love, the album was conceived and written by Kate Denny (sings and strings) after a visit to the area, and further research revealed that legendary horror writer Edgar Allen Poe had also found inspiration there (for his short story Descent into the Maelstrom no less). Tales of mystery and imagination indeed. As it turned out, Denny also has a personal connection to the history of the Islands; her Grandfather's ship The Arethusa was part of the first major British action there in WW2. __________________________________________________________________
'A wonderfully bright and highly original debut.' - BBC Music