RAISING THE TONE Opinion
Regular readers may recall that around March of last year I began recording an album of acoustic fingerstyle pieces inspired by John Renbourn, John Martyn and 70s folk guitar at large. Chris Turpin, of the acclaimed roots-rock band Ida Mae, agreed to produce the record and, working around his busy touring schedule, we completed the sessions throughout the course of a year.
Thanks to his excellent contacts, plus a few old friends of mine, we were able to get some amazing musicians onto the record, including bassist Nick Pini (Laura Marling, Tom Jones), vocalist Bethia Beadman (Courtney Love/ eponymous solo work), fiddle player Aaron Catlow (Sheelanagig/Kit Hawes) and Stephanie Jean Ward, Chris’s musical partner in crime in Ida Mae, on flute and piano.
From all these wonderful ingredients a finished album emerged that added just a touch of Glastonbury mysticism to its British folk influences and,
