Eliza Carthy & Jennifer Reid

If there is one musician who embodies the dynamism and vitality of the current English folk revival, it’s Eliza Carthy MBE.

As the daughter of folk legends Martin Carthy & Norma Waterson, Eliza grew up immersed in the world of traditional music and from an early age was championed by John Peel, Andy Kershaw and Billy Bragg. Eliza’s music effortlessly crosses boundaries of genre and style. Her powerful, nuanced voice, fiercely beautiful fiddle-playing, and mesmerizing performances have influenced a whole generation of young musicians. Twice nominated for the Mercury Prize, Eliza has performed and recorded around the world with a diverse array of artists including, Paul Weller, Rufus & Martha Wainwright, Patrick Wolf, and Jarvis Cocker.

When it comes to Jennifer Reid, think rousing songs and passionate oratory. The working classes made music as a provocation, and this is a tradition Reid continues. She is a performer of nineteenth century Lancashire dialect and Victorian broadside ballads. Reid played Barb in Shane Meadows’ critically acclaimed BBC period drama The Gallows Pole, and recently supported Pulp and John Cooper Clarke.