PierFest presents - PierFolk Festival: STICK IN THE WHEEL, ALASDAIR ROBERTS
PierFest presents the PierFolk Festival:
Stick In The Wheel
Stick In The Wheel’s work is rooted in traditional music and song, informed by the modern electronic music that grew out of their hybrid East London heritage. Nicola Kearey and Ian Carter use centuries-old work-songs that speak to present-day issues of class - an inherently political act - as well as historical material from Saxon poetry to Medieval carols. Their third studio album, Hold Fast, is a deeply layered journey of hope and resistance, with a sonic palette that is wider yet more nuanced than ever, with synths, spoken word and psychedelic guitar fuzz. SITW continue to push forward the contemporary tradition of roots music, whilst maintaining and celebrating music from our collective histories - conjuring the past to point toward the future.
“It feels important and urgent: the depth of the work here – musically, lyrically, politically – is staggering.” - NARC Magazine
“Hold Fast is one of the best records of the year” - Marc Riley, BBC 6 Music
“Powerful - and deeply relatable.” - Pitchfork
Alasdair Roberts
September 2019 saw the release of The Fiery Margin, the latest album from prolific cult Scottish folk singer Alasdair Roberts. Released by Drag City Records and featuring ten of his characteristically idiosyncratic self-written songs and realised with a wonderful supporting cast of musicians including Ailbhe Nic Oireachtaigh (viola), Alex Neilson (percussion) and Stevie Jones (bass, piano) among others, Common Clay was lovingly recorded by Luigi Pasquini at Anchor Lane Studios, Glasgow.
As a collection of original material, the album stands in contrast to Roberts’ recent experiments in reimagining traditional Scots ballads with piano/electronic accompaniment on the 2018 album What News (with Amble Skuse and David McGuinness). However, despite the fact that all of the material is original the influence of centuries of song and musical tradition from Scotland and beyond is nevertheless evident throughout, in combination with a thoroughly open and forward-thinking approach.
This evening Alasdair will offer up the uncommon songs of The Fiery Margin for your delectation in a stripped down solo performance.
'One of our most talented, important and relevant songwriters and song-adapters.' - Folk Radio UK
'Quietly escalating towards Scottish national treasure status' – Mojo
'An artist in consummate control of his art' - Uncut
