Appearing in York ahead of the release of their debut album, Plumhall are an exciting new roots and acoustic-based band. They perform at the Basement in York on Thursday, March 14.
Plumhall features Michelle Plum and Nick B Hall – Michelle is a singer-songwriter best-known for her work with Chumbawamba (with whom she has played nearly all the major European Festivals including Glastonbury), Waking the Witch and The Accidental Tourists.
Nick is best-known as a member of The Hall Brothers with whom he has recorded several albums. As a solo artist he has recently toured South Africa and performed at major festivals in Canada, Holland and Spain.
Together they’ve supported a who’s who of top artists including Karine Polwart, Hugh Cornwell, Aimee Mann, All About Eve, Fairport Convention, Kate Rusby, John Tams and Thea Gilmore. Plumhall have just been signed to Splid Records by label boss David Crickmore, presenter of BBC Radio Leeds Folk & Roots show. Their debut album will be distributed by Proper Records and released in early 2013.
To find out more about Plumhall, check out their website, their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.
They are joined on the bill by York’s own Suzy Bradley and The Morning After. Suzy formerly sang with rock band The Murderhouse, who released one album and toured in the UK and the US. Her confessional songwriting and passionate voice have won her acclaim as a solo singer / songwriter, and she’s recently supported folk legends Pentangle, the Wonderstuff’s Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls and acclaimed US songwriter Dar Williams.
She performs with cellist Lucy Blakeson and guitarist David Martin as The Morning After.
Also on the bill The Listeners is Emma Thorpe – on her own or with her collaborators. And she sings in cinematic detail from a small town on the North Nottinghamshire borders. Her finger-picking weaves a strange atmosphere – the likes of which you’d more likely find in a Lynch film or a novel by Bolano than in the sculpted folk of her inspirations.
And like those who inspire her – Nick Cave, Patti Smith, William Blake, she loves to muse on nature & religion: God, the devil, good and evil. Richard Hawley says she’s “f**king brilliant” as well.
Young musician Isi Dee describes herself as “different, original, fun, bubbly, scatter brain, day dreamer – singer songwriter”. Have a listen at her website.
- Plumhall + Suzy Bradley and The Morning After + The Listeners + Isi Dee appear at The Basement, York, on Thursday, March 14 from 8pm
- Tickets: £4 on the door