For Folk's Sake » Andrew Davie

New Communion sessions with Andrew Davie’s Bear’s Den and Kyla La Grange

Lynn Roberts — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:03:25 +0000

: The first Communion compilation

Communion Records – the label run by ex-Cherbourg man Kev Jones and Mumford and Sons’ Ben Lovett – have knocked brains with new session operation Bands in Transit, which films artists playing in the back of a Transit van.

The result are sessions at the brilliant Hackney City Farm (if you’re in spitting distance of East London, FFS highly recommends a visit) featuring Andrew Davie’s new band Bear’s Den – with an appearance from Ben Lovett – playing new track ‘Stubborn Beast’.

For more tracks head to www.bandsintransit.com.

Kyla:Bear’s Den:

FFS Exclusive: Andrew Davie, Beth Jeans Houghton and Tom Williams & the Boat for Camden Crawl

Lynn Roberts — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:00:48 +0000

FFS can exclusively reveal that Andrew Davie (formerly of Cherbourg), Beth Jeans Houghton and Tom Williams & the Boat will play this year’s Camden Crawl.

Other folky acts lined up include Sarabeth Tucek – who is supporting the Leisure Society on their forthcoming UK tour – and Treetop Flyers.

The Camden Crawl happens on the May bank holiday weekend in 20 or so venues in Camden including Koko, Dingwalls and the Jazz Cafe.

Tickets are £63.50 for the weekend or £39.50 for one day. Find out more at www.thecamdencrawl.com

Live: Communion Launch @ The Cellars, Oxford

For Folk's Sake — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:08:07 +0000

Photo: Martyn Leung

Communion, a club night and record label set up by Kevin Jones (formerly of Cherbourg) and Ben Lovett (of Mumford & Sons), was originally intended to promote upcoming musicians in the London circuit. This launch saw its grasps expanding to Oxford through a line up of Sonny Liston, Rozi Plain, Andrew Davie and Pete Roe.

Oxford-based band and newly appointed Oxford Communion residents, Sonny Liston played with an old bassist and a brand new violinist – not that you could tell on the part of either. The sizeable seven-piece’s arrangements were together and new violinist Bryony (not sure if I should be on first name terms, but I didn’t catch her surname) provided some exciting vocal harmonies and violin solos. The band’s energetic performance and rhythmic songs had an impressive majority of the admittedly petite crowd up and dancing by the end of the set. The frontman took a moment to play a demure solo, which broke up the liveliness of the set and had a very different sound from the rest of the band’s tracks. Fortunately, he welcomed his bandmates back to the stage for a sprightly finale that rounded off the set nicely.

Joined by two members of Sleeping States, Rozi Plain provided quite a change of pace from Sonny Liston. Her endearing songs and bashful inter-song chat charmed the crowd. The addition of the two Sleeping States members was a good one. They provided percussion and harmonies, as well as a bass and another guitar that without which I fear the crowd’s chatters would have drowned Rozi’s music. Having said that, when she decided to perform alone she held her own convincingly. Between the solo and the Sleeping States’ track, the set was kept interesting and the trio’s music remained the dictator of the atmosphere.

Andrew Davie is still relatively new as a solo artist, having parted ways with Cherbourg just under than a year ago, and, before the gig, I was yet to be convinced about his ‘going it alone’… ‘The Sun Will Not Come’ was far more folky than I had expected from Davie and told an unsettling tale. It demonstrated that his song-writing abilities are still as keen as ever and whilst it is always a pleasure to hear Davie sing, I was relieved when he acknowledged, “I hope I haven’t been too morbid. I fear I might have been”. Because although his songs captivated everyone in the venue, there were no jaunty or light-hearted numbers to get the crowd really going. Nonetheless, I didn’t find myself lamenting the loss of Cherbourg until Davie had left the stage; a great credit to his solo performance.

I was glad to see Pete Roe headlining, having seen him several times as part of Laura Marling’s band and as a support act on Mumford and Sons’ latest UK tour. I don’t know why it hasn’t happened sooner, since he has all the credentials a great performer should and he demonstrated those at Communion. ‘A Man Like Thee’ gave an insight into Roe’s musical heritage and subsequent style. He told the crowd that his dad taught him the Lancashire folk song when he was young and its gentle and uplifting style is reflected in Roe’s own songs. As the set came to a close, one member of the crowd (and, since there weren’t many of us, we all somewhat awkwardly knew who it was) shouted ‘I’m awestruck’. A good summary of a great night. Hurrah Communion and welcome to Oxford!

Words: Ailsa Roberts

Mumford & Sons, Andrew Davie and Lissie added to Open House Festival bill

Lynn Roberts — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:54:02 +0000

Mumford & Sons, ex-Cherbourg frontman Andrew Davie and Lissie have been added to the line-up for Belfast’s Open House Festival.

They join a bill that already boasts Modest Mouse, Wilco, Iron & Wine, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Low Anthem and Peggy Sue.

The festival runs from 6th – 12th September in venues across Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.

Events are individually priced and tickets can be bought from www.openhousefestival.com.

WIN tickets to RFB with Kassidy, Andrew Davie & Anna Calvi

Lynn Roberts — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:00:01 +0000

One lucky FFS reader will win two free tickets to Thursday (25th Feb) night’s Kassidy, Andrew Davie, Anna Calvi and Lulu and the Lampshades gig at Hoxton Bar and Kitchen.

The bands will be joined by Blue Flowers DJs and Helen and I will be on hand to spin a few tunes as For Folk’s Sake DJs too.

You can read FFS’s review of Davie’s first solo show here.

To be in with a chance of winning. Just tell us which band Andrew Davie fronted until recently. Answer in the comments box below, or email win[at]forfolkssake[dot]com.

Competition closes at 6pm on Wednesday 24th February. The winner will be picked at random and emailed with the smashing news.

If you’re not lucky enough to win, tickets are available from We Got Tickets.

And, when you have the time, we highly recommend you check out Rockfeedback’s other shows, sessions and reviews.

Words: Lynn Roberts

Rockfeedback launches folk nights

Lynn Roberts — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:33:39 +0000

Our pals over at Rockfeedback have been putting on great folky shows for a while now. The souvenir keyrings FFS has attached to our belongings (Peggy Sue + Local Natives + Curly Hair and First Aid Kit + Blue Roses + Kill it Kid) prove as much, but now they’ve launched a new thoroughly folk night called ‘Over the Green Hills‘ just to make sure there’s no question at all.

The first OtGH show will be on 25th February at London’s Hoxton Bar and Kitchen and will feature Kassidy, Andrew Davie (formerly of Cherbourg – read our live review of his first solo show), Anna Calvi and Allotment veterans Lulu and the Lampshades. And Helen and I will be spinning a few tunes as For Folk’s Sake DJs, which is jolly exciting for us, if not for everyone else.

Tickets are available from We Got Tickets (which – in our humble opinion – is the least scammy of the ticket sites. Just sayin’).

Come along and say hello. Gowan.

Words: Lynn Roberts

Live: Andrew Davie of Cherbourg at Hoxton Bar and Grill

Lynn Roberts — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:52:35 +0000

Let’s get one thing out in the open before you read this. I love vocal harmonies. I think 80% of music would be better with them. I also love the art of songwriting. I can’t be bothered with music that doesn’t have a proper song in its foundations. The song is the thing, after all. So I had mixed feelings about Andrew Davie’s decision to retire Cherbourg and go on to have a solo career. In an interview last week Davie told FFS he plans to concentrate on songwriting — something he’s proven himself to be fantastically good at — but it means no more harmonies.

Davie’s headline slot at Hoxton Bar and Grill on Monday was clearly a transition between Cherbourg and his new solo career. The six Cherbourg tracks he performed were in their original arrangements, which perhaps suggests that he doesn’t plan to take them any further.

And although the band’s songs stand up well to the scrutiny of being stripped back, the fact that the songs were still in their original form made the missing parts startling obvious. Cherbourg’s stand-out track ‘Never Love Again’ was the one on which the rest of the band were most sorely missed. Into The Dark track ‘Shine’ took on a new feel without the jaunty violin solo. Davie’s solo version was a more delicate and tender interpretation, better suited its bittersweet lyrics. The sound filled the room thanks to Davie’s warm and resonant voice, especially on ‘Horses’ and ‘The Mill’, the two Cherbourg tracks that worked best on the night.

Davie looked comfortable on stage alone, engaging the crowd with some good banter. “I’ve got the scribblings of a madman for a setlist,” he said. “One of them just says ‘Life’. I don’t remember writing that one. It sounds broad.” When he did remember which song he meant a bit later, it was the strongest of his altogether very promising new material, which also included sad folky ballad ‘Mother’.

Midway through the encore ‘Let Yourself Love’ Davie faltered. “I’ve forgotten the guitar solo,” he said. And I think that settles it. The man is moving on.

Words: Lynn Roberts

Andrew Davie played:
1. Shine (Cherbourg)
2. Mother
3. Love Me If You Dare
4. Horses (Cherbourg)
5. Let You Down (Cherbourg)
6. Lost Without You
7. Life
8. The Mill (Cherbourg)
9. Never Love Again (Cherbourg)
10. Let Yourself Love (Cherbourg)

Check out Andrew Davies’ brand new myspace here.

Davie was playing as part of the Levi’s OnesToWatch 5 Night Revue

For Folk's Sake » Andrew Davie

New Communion sessions with Andrew Davie’s Bear’s Den and Kyla La Grange

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Live: Andrew Davie of Cherbourg at Hoxton Bar and Grill

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WIN tickets to RFB with Kassidy, Andrew Davie & Anna Calvi