Twice-nominated for a prestigious Nationwide Mercury Prize ('Red Rice' Topic/1998 and 'Anglicana'/2003) Eliza is also the winner of more than five BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. In 2003 she became the first traditional English musician to be nominated a BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music (for 'Anglicana').
In March 2005, Eliza co-presented the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards with Benjamin Zephaniah - an event that was broadcast on BBC Four. She has been a regular co-presenter on the award-winning BBC Radio 2 Mark Radcliffe Show and has made several appearances on BBC TVs 'Later with Jools'. In addition, Eliza has presented her own four part series on the history of English Folk on BBC Radio 2, was recently the subject of an hour long ITV documentary('Heaven & Earth') and in May 2008 was the subject of another documentary on Channel 5, "My Music". Eliza also featured prominently in the acclaimed BBC Four Folk Britannia season.
From an early age Eliza was championed by John Peel and Billy Bragg. She's featured on Billy's Grammy winning albums with Wilco, 'Mermaid Avenue' 1&2. In 2006, she appeared on 'Rogues Gallery', an album created by Hal Wilner and Johnny Depp, also featuring Nick Cave, Bryan Ferry, the Wainwright/Mcgarrigle family, Sting and Richard Thompson and in 2007 made a significant contribution to another collaborative project (featuring among other artists legendary Anglo-Indian singer Sheila Chandra, Johnny Kalsi of the Dhol Foundation and members of Transglobal Underground) 'The Imagined Villlage' (Realworld). She was also a featured artist on seminal Scottish/Latin fusion band Salsa Celtica's most recent album 'El Camino'.
Touring on and off since the age of 14, Eliza has performed and recorded with a startling array of musical heroes from around the globe including Joan Baez, Damon Albarn, Vartinna, Bill Frisell and Paul Weller. She's appeared at a huge number of live events, benefits and multi-artist concerts from Robin Hood's Bay Village Hall to the Albert Hall including 'Daughters of Albion' with Thea Gilmore and Kathryn Williams, Patti Smith's Meltdown and in October 2007 participated in the BBC Electric Proms concert celebrating the songs of her late and much-missed aunt, 'A Tribute to Lal Waterson'.
Eliza is the patron of two longstanding and well-respected folk festivals, Cheltenham and Whitby (her home town, where she is also patron of the Spa Theatre), and is involved with both North-East-based folk organisation Folkworks and the EFDSS.
Yorkshire-born, based in Scotland's capital for ten years and now living in Sherwood Forest, Eliza Carthy grew up immersed in the world of traditional English music. She divides her time between touring and recording with her legendary parents, Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson (as Waterson:Carthy) and numerous pioneering solo and band projects. These include collaborations with The Ratcatchers: celebrated English musicians John Spiers and Jon Boden and Scottish producer/guitarist/viola player Ben Ivitsky; Simon Emmerson's groundbreaking The Imagined Village and her new band, touring the new material from her forthcoming Topic release Dreams Of Breathing Underwater (released June 23rd).
Describing herself simply as a 'modern English musician', Eliza Carthy is only just beginning to reach the height of her musical powers. During a 19-year career she has become one of the most dazzling and recognised folk musicians of a generation. She has revitalised and made folk music relevant to new audiences and has captured the most hardened of dissenters with intelligent, charismatic and boundary-crossing performance.
New album - Out Now!
“A fizzing firework display full of colourful contrasts, vivid narratives and big characters” **** Mojo
“A shape-shifter of an album packed with musical and lyrical intrigue” **** Uncut
We are proud to announce that we are HEADLINING the Cream Insturment Cable Stage at the Lesser Muni as part of the 2009 Great British R&B Festival in Colne, Lancashire, UK on Monday August 31st. The Charlie White Project and Sheffield’s blues poet Mr Billy Martin Jnr are also appearing. Expect great music and utterly immaculate sound quality using cutting edge PA cables and power amps. Ticket details are available at www.bluesfestival.co.uk. Doors open at 7.30pm and we will be onstage at 10.15pm.
Our new album “A Time and Place” is available directly from www.robinhoare.com via Pay Pal and from good record stores.
Hi Eliza a Big Thank You for signing the cd for me @ Beverley Folk Festival. I was the Guy who brought Your very 1st cd to be signed & didnt realise it was Your very 1st cd. So pleased You are feeling better than You were. Best Wishes Richard xx
Tune in to episode 12 of the Lantern Society Radio Hour, featuring the creme de la creme of the capital's most comely crooners. Stunning live performances beautifully captured for your listening pleasure, at London's Finest Folk Club, The Lantern Society.
And, why not join us for the next Lantern Society - Thursday 18th June.
The Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Rd, London. EC1R 3BL
Hiya We’ve been working on some new songs and are in pre-production for the recording of our first commercial CD release which will be recorded over the summer, with a hopeful release October time,
Our last live performance before our summer holiday will be at the Selby outdoor festival at the James Street 'bowling green' in Selby on the 21st June, the event starts at 1pm and we’ll be on stage at 5pm others on the bill are Dirty Secrets, Chantel McGregor, The Beautiful Sound, Last Gang and headlining is the Bryan Adams Experience, we hope you can be there.
This Saturday 16th May the Citadel gives you the opportunity to witness a living legend in traditional music and folk rock, Dave Swarbrick.
Widely acknowledged as one of Britain's finest folk singers and fiddle players, we know no loyal fan will want to miss out on what promises to be another memorable performance.
Tickets are on sale now priced just £12/£10, doors open at 8pm.
If you require further information, or would like to book tickets please contact the Citadel Box Office on 01744 735436 or visit www.citadel.org.uk
Hi Eliza Hope you can make it upstairs after you finish on stage on Friday night. We'll be playing to whoever stops around to get suitable drunk, and bringing Holmfirth into the 18th Century, Barnsley-style. COME ON! Lots of love, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican
Hello Eliza Carthy. This is our first headline London show for a very long time, to celebrate finishing our new album which will be out later this year. So come on down and have a good time with us.
...and of course don't forget London's Finest Folk Club, The next Lantern Society - Thursday 7th May at the Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Rd, EC1R 3BL. Neartest tube Farringdon.
Just to let you know, there's a new song on me profile. As always, any comments, thoughts, philosophies on life, the universe and everything are more than welcome.
Hello Eliza Carthy. The new episode of The Lantern Society Radio Hour is now on the air. As recorded at London's Finest Folk Club on 16th april 2009. Click the banner below to subscribe for free at iTunes, or simply use the player to tune in.
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And do come along to the next installment of the Lantern Society at The Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Rd, on Thursday 7th May.
Upcoming shows: 15-17 May - Wood Festival, Braziers Park, Oxfordshire. BUY TICKETS
18th May - Spectacle Records Presents: Your New Favourite Bands at Catch Bar, 22 Kingsland Road. Shoreditch, London. HEADLINE SHOW.
Hello there! How you going? I wrote a new song today and recorded it and put it on myspace. Its called BIGGEST MISTAKE. Please have a listen and leave comment when you have time. Cheers Adam
