Shirley Collins to guest on Desert Island Discs Sunday 6th August
Shirley has the great honour of being invited to be Lauren Lavern’s desert island cast-a-way on BBC Radio 4, Sunday 6th of August. The show airs on its regular slot at 11:15 AM, straight on after the Archers omnibus. It will be repeated on Friday the 11th at 9:00 AM and available to listen to on BBC Sounds after midday on the 6th.
Shirley Collins announces her new album Archangel Hill, her third album for Domino. Due for release on May 26.
It showcases another peerless collection of songs chosen by Collins, most from traditional sources but others from favourite writers of hers.
Archangel Hill is named in honour of Shirley’s stepfather who called Mount Caburn, a landmark close to Collins’ home in Lewes, Archangel Hill. Shirley imparts some context: “Whenever I walk Mount Caburn, I give a silent greeting in memory of my stepfather Bill and his horses. I’ve picked sloes there in autumn, sat watching sheep and the occasional chalk hill blue butterfly in summer, but Bill had ridden over it many times in the 1920s, walking horses from Bishopstone to the Lewes races.” The album artwork is a painting by Peter Messer of Mount Caburn that Collins commissioned.
All of the songs on Archangel Hill were recorded last year except for “Hand And Heart”, which was taken from a live performance at the Sydney Opera House in 1980 and features an arrangement by Shirley’s beloved and talented sister Dolly Collins as well as the words of author F.C. Ball, aka Great Uncle Fred. The record has been produced by Ian Kearey - Shirley Collins’ musical director and the arrangements were shared between Collins, Kearey, Barnes, as well as Dave Arthur and Pete Cooper, players from The Lodestar Band.
The first song to be shared from Archangel Hill is “High And Away”, with words by collaborator Pip Barnes. He says of its origins: “There is a passage in Shirley’s book ‘America Over The Water’ where she relays a conversation with the Arkansas singer Almeda Riddle in 1959. It begins: “She told of the tricks a tornado can play” and goes on to give four or five examples. Whenever I heard Shirley read this, I would note that alliterative and rhythmic first line of the passage, and the vividness of the images of a tornado’s doings, and say to myself, “There’s a song here, it’s almost written itself.” I wrote the words, but with no strong idea of a tune for it, other than that it seemed to suggest itself into ¾ time. Shirley obliged with a tune of her own devising, and Ian with its arrangement.”
Archangel Hill is twilight teaching, an end of time reminder from Shirley about being a good ancestor and paying your respects to the generations before. Shirley has done a lifetime of this work and with this record asks of us to do the same.
America Over The Water
In January 2022, White Rabbit will publish a revised and updated edition of Shirley Collins’ singular memoir America Over the Water, which chronicles her journey through America’s southern states with Alan Lomax.
The announcement from Shirley can be read here
Crowlink EP
Listen to My Sailor Boy here
Today, Shirley Collins is pleased to announce a new EP, Crowlink, due July 30th. The EP is named after a particular hamlet in the Seven Sisters (a series of undulating hills on the Sussex coast) with a pathway that overlooks the English Channel which is one of Shirley’s favourite places to be.
Picking up from Heart’s Ease’s finale, the Crowlink EP is a collection of songs sung by Shirley Collins and featuring field recordings from the edge of the cliffs at Crowlink, Firle Church and Etchingham recorded by Matthew Shaw. Shaw also produced the EP and played additional instrumentation across the EP’s five songs.
Alongside the Crowlink announcement, Shirley Collins shares “My Sailor Boy” from the EP, which finds Shirley singing over a moody, atmospheric fusion of sounds and demonstrates a more experimental side to the folk veteran. Elsewhere on the EP, Ossian Brown’s hurdy-gurdy rings through on “The Rose and the Briar” and the artwork is by author, painter, film maker & provocateur Brian Catling.
Crowlink at Charelston
Sold Out
We are pleased to announce that the concert will now take place on the outdoor stage at Charleston (subject to weather). Please note that this space is uncovered and in the open air, so please dress accordingly.
If you have tickets and are planning not to come along please do let us know, at the earliest opportunity, as we'd love to give others the opportunity to see this unique event.
A bus will leave Lewes station for Charleston at 6pm and return at 10pm. Places are limited so please book in advance by emailing events@charleston.org.uk. Tickets are £5 return.
Arrive from 6pm to explore the unique sound installation in the garden by sound artist Matthew Shaw features recorded words and poetry from Shirley Collins and Brian Catling, and many more luminaires. The performances starts at 7.30
Journey with us from Firle Church as we walk up over the Downs to the edge of the cliff at Crowlink 1.916. Looking out to sea, listening to the song of the skylarks, the wind whipping through the bent over trees, the waves crashing against the white cliffs, the pull of the tide across chalk, shingle and stone.
Shirley Collins leads us with her recital of the English folk songs collected over seventy years. With poetry from Brian Catling and Matthew Shaw and fragments of letters, diaries and prose from Virgina Woolf, Vanessa Bell and the Bloomsbury group in Sussex.
These poems and extracted writings voiced in order of appearance by by Shirley Collins, Hannah Peel, Jeremy Deller, Lally MacBeth, Benjamin Zephaniah, Heather Leigh, Laura Barton, Zakia Sewell, Peter Owen Jones, Amy Grantham, Matthew Shaw, Mark Fry, Sam Lee & Virginia Woolf.
All music performed by Matthew Shaw with special guests Ossian Brown on hurdy-gurdy and Penny MacBeth on recorders.
The garden sound installation will be on site for a further week following the Shirley Collins events.
Please be aware the gardens can accommodate only a limited capacity. Those wishing to promenade the grounds may experience a wait to allow the previous group to exit the gardens.
The café will be open, serving delicious Italian street food from Caccia & Tails, or feel free to bring a picnic to eat in the centenary gardens/by the pond.
The galleries will be open and free to ticket holders, subject to capacity, with exhibitions by Nina Hamnett & Lisa Brice.
Keep an eye on the facebook book page for further updates:
31st July 1st August
We are looking forward to seeing you at this unique event in the heart of the downs.
And finally...
Shirley will be in conversation with Stewart Lee on Wednesday 7 July at 7pm, giving a first-hand account of an extraordinary life. For more information and to book
Once the event is sold out/if you need to resell your ticket:
We would strongly recommend that if you are purchasing re-sell tickets that you buy through SEE tickets re-sell option than from a person directly. If you are buying re-sell physical tickets, previously bought at Resident record shop, send through an image to Melting Vinyl on messenger or an email of the tickets for them to confirm they are genuine (ticketing@meltingvinyl.co.uk). If you are unable to attend and have bought tickets through Charleston please get in touch with the box office directly.
Shirley on BBC Radio 4 Today programme
Shirley was on BBC Radio 4 Today with Robin Denselow. You can listen here and Shirley and Robin are on aound 1:22
The Electric Muse Revisited
Out now is The Electic Muse Revisited, with an updated on Shirley Collins along with a section on Crowlink, the piece of music by Shirley Collins, Matthew Shaw & Ossian Brown.
First published in 1975, at the height of the folk-rock boom, the critically acclaimed Electric Muse chronicled the story of the folk movement, from roots to revival, featuring new interviews and photographs, this edition brings the fascinating narrative up to date.
Buy your copy here
There is an accompanying 61-track, 4-CD set which explores the experimental side of the British folk scene. This boxset brings together an extraordinary cast of great musicians for the first time, and tells the story of how British traditional music has been re-worked with influences not just from rock but from punk, rap, electronica, big band brass, and sounds and styles from around the world.
The first thre tracks on the album are by Shirley.
Sweet Greens and Blues 1964 (home recording) - Shirley Collins and Davy Graham
Gilderoy - Shirley and Dolly Collins
Crowlink - Shirley Collins
It’s in all good record shops and can also be ordered online here
Crowlink 0.5
Crowlink 0.5 a film and installation will appear with Shirley Collins and the Lodestar Band as part of the Barbican event on Sunday 23rd May.
Directed by Grant Gee, with sound installation by Matthew Shaw, poetry by Brian Catling, featuing the voices of Shirley Collins, Hannah Peel, Benjamin Zephaniah, Heather Leigh, Laura Barton, Lally MacBeth, Matthew Shaw, & Zakia Sewell. Hurdy gurdy by Ossian Brown.
Shirley Collins in conversation with Stewart Lee
Tickets on sale here
Shirley Collins, the legendary English folk singer and song collector, preludes her Crowlink concerts at Charleston in July with an in conversation with Stewart Lee. Collins gives a unique first-hand account of an extraordinary life, from the song collecting trip to the Southern States with Alan Lomax, to the triumphant return to performance after three decades of silence. Underscoring it all is the belief in the power of song to communicate through time.
Stewart Lee is a stand-up comedian, columnist and commentator. He is a long time friend and supporter of Shirley, writing the sleeve notes for the critically acclaimed comeback ‘Lodestar’ and compering Shirley’s 80th birthday party celebrations at the Southbank Centre.
Shirley Collins, the legendary English folk singer and song collector, preludes her Crowlink concerts at Charleston in July with an in conversation with Stewart Lee. Collins gives a unique first-hand account of an extraordinary life, from the song collecting trip to the Southern States with Alan Lomax, to the triumphant return to performance after three decades of silence. Underscoring it all is the belief in the power of song to communicate through time.
Stewart Lee is a stand-up comedian, columnist and commentator. He is a long time friend and supporter of Shirley, writing the sleeve notes for the critically acclaimed comeback ‘Lodestar’ and compering Shirley’s 80th birthday party celebrations at the Southbank Centre.
Shirley Collins and the Lodestar Band have been added to the bill for this years End of the Road festival. End of the Road is now sold out.
Shirley Collins & the Lodestar Band
Live from the Barbican
Sun 23 May 2021, 20:00 ,Barbican Hall
Tickets
Sunday 1 August 2021
“Never are voices so beautiful as when dusk almost hides the body” Virginia Woolf
Legendary folk singer Shirley Collins makes a pilgrimage to the heart of the Sussex landscape that fuels her work, in a unique collaboration with artist and writer Brian Catling and acclaimed sound artist Matthew Shaw.
CROWLINK is an immersive sound installation in the Walled Garden at Charleston, with traditional song and original poetry interwoven with field recordings. The evening culminates in the Hay Barn with performance from Catling and an intimate concert from Shirley Collins and the Lodestar Band.
Gallery, gardens & soundscape open from 6pm for 7.30pm start
In partnership with Melting Vinyl.
Please refer to the Facebook event for up to date information.
Shirley’s conversation with Cindy Howes for Basic Folk is now live, you can listen to it here
In Conversation: Shirley Collins and Linda Thompson
The legendary folk singer is celebrated by her fan and fellow songwriter.
You can read the article here
The artwork for Heart’s Ease by Alex Merry is one of the nominees for Best Art Vinyl in 2020, a competition celebrating album artwork. Cast your vote here
Shirley’s Tiny Desk Concert is available to watch now
“Shirley Collins is a legend — a humble one, but undoubtedly a transformative voice in traditional folk music. It's truly a miracle to hear her voice at this Tiny Desk (home) concert. At 85, Shirley Collins is seated in the living room of her cottage in Lewes, East Sussex, accompanied by guitarist Ian Kearey. Her life story took the sort of twists you hear in the songs she sings, in her case, a broken heart, a painful divorce, and the loss of her voice. For 30 years, she couldn't sing.
Now, here she is playing songs from Heart's Ease, only the second album she's made in the past 40 years. You hear her sing of a young sailor boy who saves his ship from robbers and is promised by his captain both gold and his daughter's hand in marriage. The lad sinks the robber's boat, only to be left to drown by that very same captain. “
You can watch Shirley talking with Mark Radcliffe at the launch of the National Folk chart. The event took place on Saturday 17th. The part with Shirley and Mark starts at 13 minutes 20 seconds into the broadcast.
I have an early Christmas surprise to announce! Domino will be releasing a flexi-disc postcard of my version of "The Christmas Song" and I will be signing 250 copies.
You can pre-order it here: http://smarturl.it/ChristmasSongFlexi
Cards will be posted out 13th November.
This is a favourite song from the renowned Copper Family of Rottingdean in East Sussex. They have lived and worked the land around there for over four centuries. In their songbook, A Living Tradition, are 65 songs that the family have sung down many generations.
