Brand new album (her first since 2009) from former Bellowhead string player/singer, Rachael McShane sees her reworking traditional songs with a new band, The Cartographers, featuring guitarist Matthew Ord (Assembly Lane) and melodeon player Julian Sutton (Kathryn Tickell, Sting).

Best known as an original member of folk big band Bellowhead, who

Brand new album (her first since 2009) from former Bellowhead string player/singer, Rachael McShane sees her reworking traditional songs with a new band, The Cartographers, featuring guitarist Matthew Ord (Assembly Lane) and melodeon player Julian Sutton (Kathryn Tickell, Sting).

Best known as an original member of folk big band Bellowhead, who recorded 5 studio albums and won a total of 8 BBC Folk Awards in their 12 years together. Rachael's first solo album 'No Man's Fool' was released on Navigator Records in 2009 though she has more recently been singing the role of Susannah Holmes in an acclaimed new adaptation of The Transports alongside The Young'uns, Faustus, Nancy Kerr, Greg Russell and Matthew Crampton.

Rachael McShane & The Cartographers are a brand new signing to Topic Records, the oldest independent label in the world, on the eve of its 80th anniversary.

Track Listing 1 The Molecatcher 2 Lady Isabel 3 Cropper Lads 4 Ploughman Lads 5 Waltzing at Giggleswick/The Ginger Cat Monster 6 Two Sisters 7 Barley and Rye 8 Road to Tarset/Lake of Swans 9 Sheath and Knife 10 Sylvie 11 Green Broom

2019 marks the 80th birthday of Topic Records, the oldest independent record label in the world. As part of the celebrations, on 31st May 2019, we released the landmark album, ‘Vision & Revision : The first 80 years of Topic Records’ – a deluxe double CD and vinyl of the cream of British and Irish folk artists interpreting a song of their

2019 marks the 80th birthday of Topic Records, the oldest independent record label in the world. As part of the celebrations, on 31st May 2019, we released the landmark album, ‘Vision & Revision : The first 80 years of Topic Records’ – a deluxe double CD and vinyl of the cream of British and Irish folk artists interpreting a song of their choice from Topic’s vast back catalogue – the only stipulation being that the song was at some time released on Topic. Includes never-before-released tracks by Martin Simpson, Richard Thompson, Lankum, Peggy Seeger, John Smith, Sam Lee, Martin Carthy, Olivia Chaney, Lisa O’Neill, Oysterband, Nancy Kerr, Chris Wood, Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker, Lisa Knapp, Kitty Macfarlane, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, Emily Portman & Rob Harbron, Rachael McShane & The Cartographers, Eliza Carthy & Olivia Chaney and The Oldham Tinkers.

‘Vision & Revision’ is a unique celebration of folk music, as a crop of contemporary artists delve into Topic’s treasure chest, pull out all manner and variety of ballads and broadsides and breathe new life into them.

Tracklisting : 1. Martin Simpson – Beaulampkin 2. Peggy Seeger – Jack Frost 3. John Smith – She Moves Through The Fair 4. Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker – The Banks Of The Sweet Primroses 5. Oysterband – Seven Gypsies 6. Nancy Kerr – Searching For Lambs 7. Sam Lee – The Deserter 8. Kitty Macfarlane – Go Your Way 9. Lisa O’Neill – As I Roved Out 10. Chris Wood – Fable Of The Wings 11. The Oldham Tinkers – Dirty Old Town 12. Rachael McShane & The Cartographers – Workers’ Song 13. Richard Thompson – The Light Bob’s Lassie 14. Olivia Chaney – Polly Vaughan 15. Martin Carthy – Napoleon’s Dream 16. Lisa Knapp – I Wish My Love Was a Cherry 17. Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys – Shawnee Town 18. Emily Portman & Rob Harbron – Bay Of Biscay 19. Eliza Carthy & Olivia Chaney – Nancy Of Yarmouth 20. Lankum – The Sea Captain

No Man’s Fool is rich with tales of many men, ranging from kind-hearted, well-meaning gentlemen to thieves, mysterious strangers and somewhat sinister characters. However it is the shrewd and audacious women who shine through in these traditional songs. No Man’s Fool explores themes of death, warfare, intended rape and murder as well as tales of

No Man’s Fool is rich with tales of many men, ranging from kind-hearted, well-meaning gentlemen to thieves, mysterious strangers and somewhat sinister characters. However it is the shrewd and audacious women who shine through in these traditional songs. No Man’s Fool explores themes of death, warfare, intended rape and murder as well as tales of love, flirting, skinny-dipping and naked horseback riding! Rachael’s beautiful voice, exuberant and playful at one moment and introspective the next, brings out the characters in these songs, describing feelings of joy, mischief, sorrow and murderous intent. Her band features musicians whose backgrounds are rooted more in jazz, soul and funk than in folk. They combine their eclectic influences to create innovative and exciting arrangements of traditional folk songs.

Track Listing 1 Captain Ward 2 The Highwayman Outwitted 3 The Fisherman 4 My Johnny Was A Shoemaker 5 Maid On The Shore 6 The Drowned Sailor 7 The Gardener 8 The Broomfield Wager 9 Miles Weatherhill 10 Shepherd Lad

BURLESQUE is Bellowhead's much anticipated full length album. The album includes 13 songs and tunes inspired by a dazzling array of material from the Napoleonic Wars ("Rigs Of The Time"), the American minstrel movement ("Jordan"), sea-shanties from Brazil ("Across The Line") and the spirit of the East Anglian step dance tradition "Sloe Gin". The

BURLESQUE is Bellowhead's much anticipated full length album. The album includes 13 songs and tunes inspired by a dazzling array of material from the Napoleonic Wars ("Rigs Of The Time"), the American minstrel movement ("Jordan"), sea-shanties from Brazil ("Across The Line") and the spirit of the East Anglian step dance tradition "Sloe Gin". The lead singer, Jon Boden, struts and emotes much like a grandson of Mick Jagger and the ensemble playing of all of the musicians is superb. It is not simply the technical ability of the individual players that impressess but also the sheer musicality of the arrangements. By 2006, the band had long since transcended the idea of simply being a folk band with some brass players. They have honed a unique style, which sets them apart. Deeply rooted in the English folk dance tradition, they also merge a joyous, uplifting cacophony of sound with a slightly sinister, distorted collision of music hall, Lotte Lenya, Robert Wyatt and pure theatre. Track Listings 1 Rigs of the Time - Traditional 2 Jordan 3 Across The Line 4 London Town 5 Sloe Gin [Frozen Gin / The Vinegar Reel / The Slow] 6 Courting Too Slow 7 Flash Company 8 Hopkinson's Favourite 9 One May Morning Early 10 The Outlandish Knight 11 Frog's Legs & Dragon Teeth 12 Fire Marengo 13 Death and the Lady

This is a magnificently murky and rum-sodden collection of 11 traditional and original songs from an 11 piece band who defy easy categorization. Not many bands would have the courage to embrace this staggering range of songs or manage them with such enthusiasm and skill. But be advised, 'Matachin' is not for the faint hearted. There are no

This is a magnificently murky and rum-sodden collection of 11 traditional and original songs from an 11 piece band who defy easy categorization. Not many bands would have the courage to embrace this staggering range of songs or manage them with such enthusiasm and skill. But be advised, 'Matachin' is not for the faint hearted. There are no whimsical maidens or gentle stories of love gone wrong. Instead you'll get dragged along on an exhilarating journey filled with Cholera, whiskey, the high-seas and the Cold War.

A truly collaborative affair, 'Matachin' is a self-produced album, which also bares the distinctive stamp of each of its highly accomplished band members. 'Matachin' is the follow-up to Bellowhead's debut album, 'Burlesque' (Westpark) which was praised to the rafters on release in 2006 and became one of The Guardian's 'Top 1000 Albums To Listen To Before You Die'. Often described as a folk big band, the Bellowhead collective are much more than that. Blending folk, rock, ska, jazz, soul and world music influences with dashes of English Music Hall and cabaret, between them, the 11 musicians play more than 20 instruments, six of them sing and their arrangements are already the stuff of legend. Winners of numerous BBC Folk Awards (including an unparalled 3 for Best Live Act) they were recently announced as Band in Residence at London's prestigious Southbank Centre. Already having played everywhere from Glastonbury to The Big Chill, Bellowhead have recently headlined the first Royal Albert Hall BBC Proms Day dedicated to folk going down a storm!

Although they have only been in existence for a few years, Bellowhead have an ever increasingly fan-base including high-profile fans who range from the West Coast's Red Hot Chili Peppers to the West Country's Frank Skinner. "The sound of 44 limbs in pursuit of countless more possibilities." - The Times

"One of the most kick-ass live bands around." - Observer Music Monthly

Review One of the most kick-ass live bands around. -- Observer Music Monthly

The sound of 44 limbs in pursuit of countless more possibilities. -- The Times

Track Listings 1 Fakenham Fair 2 Roll Her Down The Bay 3 Vignette 1 4 I Drew My Ship Across The Harbour 5 Kafoozalum / The Priest's Miss 6 Cholera Camp 7 Vignette 2 8 Whiskey Is The Life Of Man 9 Spectre Review 10 Widow's Curse 11 Bruton Town 12 Trip To Bucharest / The Flight Of The Folk Mutants Parts 1+2 13 Vignette 3