Born and raised in the US, Zoe's musical journey has covered a lot of ground. Living in Belgium and Japan (and studying Chinese poetry and African drumming), her landmarks on the way have included English, Scottish and American folk ballads, the songs of Kurt Weill, George Gershwin and Richard Thompson, an ‘apprenticeship' in the Old Time picking circles of North Carolina and a long-running flirtation with the Blues. All this (together with clear-sighted eyes and sharp ears) has given her a rich base for songwriting. In 3 years performing in the States, she played at folk venues, live on radio and at festivals up and down the eastern side of the USA, in the process winning an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Great American Song Contest, being nominated "Songwriter of the Year" (twice) by Washington Area Music Association and releasing 2 CDs. Now living in Manchester, she is earning a reputation in the UK, accompanying her clear voice on guitar or banjo, interspersing her own songs with the ballads and songs which have inspired her (plus the occasional Appalachian banjo tune) and is receiving a warm welcome from folk audiences around the north-west. Heard recently on BBC Radios Derby and Merseyside, she is now performing further afield, her engaging manner and down-to-earth humour striking a chord with her audiences who often sing along with her.
Play or Sing, read a Poem, tell a Story, listen, fetch the beer, anything
Originally from Suffolk, the Emenys moved to Somerset in 2003. An accomplished performer (voice, guitar, bouzouki) for many years, David was given a guitar at age 7 and went to some folk guitar sessions, but his musical career really started in a school rock band AND he is still playing with the same line-up 35 years later! He says Vin Garbutt's guitar style has been a major influence. Issy (melodeon, voice, songwriter/composer) might still be David's "roadie" had she not heard Tony Hall's amazing melodeon on Nic Jones' ‘Penguin Eggs' album. David gave her a melodeon in 1997 and within a year she was playing in a ceilidh band and they began performing as a duo shortly afterwards. Now also a performer, tutor and workshop leader with Folk South West, she was lucky enough to be working with John Dipper, Paul Burgess, Ed Rennie, Carolyn Robson and John Kirkpatrick (who sings one of her songs) on a major celebration of the life of Brunel. She is also a melodeon tutor at the Witney ‘Hands-On' workshops.
Recently melding into the duo, Kate's exquisitely skilful and creative cello playing has added a fine third dimension to their performances. She did ask to learn the clarinet at school, but there were none left, so (lucky for us) she made do on an old cello found in a cupboard - her father was an instrument-maker and she now plays a cello made by him. Expect to hear finely crafted ballads, rousing chorus songs, haunting tunes and beautifully arranged traditional songs and you might also get a pipe tune, clog dance, or even a bodhran solo! And they have a CD ‘Legends & Lovers' recorded by Wildgoose.
Play or Sing, read a Poem, tell a Story, listen, fetch the beer, anything
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