Blackbird by Julie Atkin

‘I must say this is a very welcome addition to our folk music scene. Julie’s fine singing of our traditional classics accompanied on many by her husband Gavin is a real pleasure‘ - Mike Norris of the EFDSS Classic Folk podcast.

'Well, that was lovely. Thank you for sending it in Julie and we're looking forward to playing more' - Steve Vernon and Barry Lister, Sidvalleyradio Folkshow

'Julie trained classically when she was young... her classical trained background shows in her perfect diction and the exquisite timing and phrasing... Gavin’s guitar style is thoughtful and precise, and complements the voice perfectly, while his melodeon accompaniment on two songs from children’s song collections is playful and also sympathetic... Lovers of traditional song will enjoy this album very much, and it will bear many further listenings.' - Paul McCann writing in Essex Folk News

[Of the track Lavender’s Green]’This track I really like. It shows off Julie and Gavin’s interest in old songs – not just folk songs but old songs generally. You’ll recognise this song as you’ve heard it before, but you might not have heard it sung as nicely as this.’ - James Fagan speaking on the Sheffield Live radio programme Thank Goodness it's Folk

Julie is one of those singers whose notes hang in the air, as the audience relishes both the sound and the meaning of what
they’ve just heard.

This album of favourite songs is designed to create that atmosphere, and that moment.

Where we’ve added accompaniments, we’ve worked to make them musical and sympathetic.

The cover photo was shot at Bewl Water, on the Kent-Sussex border.

Julie’s musical talent was spotted at an early age, and she underwent an intensive formal musical education with music teachers, studied for grades and competitions, and progressed to singing on stage. Family life intervened, followed by a couple of decades of musical silence.
But this quiet time ended abruptly when she met Gavin, and discovered the more informal worlds of folk song and folk music.

Her subsequent musical life has been very different, as she will tell you: freed of tutors and formality she has blossomed first as a singer of old popular songs and then also as a singer of folk songs, often in the classic unaccompanied style but also with Gavin’s sympathetic accompaniments.

Gavin has played dance tunes and sung the old songs since he was a teenager, often with dance teams and dance bands such as Florida and more recently with Julie as part of The Tonic.

On this album he has focused on guitar and melodeon, but he’s also well known for playing Jeffries duet concertina and fiddle, the latter
often with Julie’s piano accompaniment.

Gavin Atkin lives, sings and plays in Kent, where he also sails dinghies and a small yacht, publishes a boating weblog, and runs events and workshops focusing on traditional and old fashioned music.

See:

intheboatshed.net

and

singdanceandplay.net

singdanceandplay.net