The Waterson Family: A Mighty River of Song
Encyclopedia
A Mighty River of Song was a unique concert performance by various members of the Waterson
family on 12 May 2007 at the Royal Albert Hall
in the Knightsbridge
area of London
, England
.
The concert was intended to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the original Watersons playing the same venue shortly prior to disbanding in the late 1960s. Performers at the concert included various former members of 'The Watersons', current and former members of Waterson:Carthy
and a number of other Waterson family members. The concert also included a short performance by Brass Monkey which was intended to re-launch the band after the death of their founder member Howard Evans
in 2006. Eliza Carthy
also accompanied the traditional Yorkshire
long sword
team The Goathland Plough Stots in the performance of two dances. During the course of the evening Eliza Carthy was presented with the prestigious Gold Badge of the English Folk Dance and Song Society
.
The concert was promoted by the Derbyshire
based arts consultants and event organisers Mrs Casey Music.
Brass Monkey:
The Goathland Plough Stots:
The Watersons
The Watersons were an English folk group from Hull, Yorkshire. They performed mainly traditional songs with little or no accompaniment. Their distinctive sound came from their closely woven harmonies.-Career:...
family on 12 May 2007 at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in the Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
area of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The concert was intended to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the original Watersons playing the same venue shortly prior to disbanding in the late 1960s. Performers at the concert included various former members of 'The Watersons', current and former members of Waterson:Carthy
Waterson:Carthy
Waterson:Carthy are an English folk group originally comprising Norma Waterson on vocals, her husband Martin Carthy on guitar and vocals and their daughter Eliza Carthy on fiddle and vocals....
and a number of other Waterson family members. The concert also included a short performance by Brass Monkey which was intended to re-launch the band after the death of their founder member Howard Evans
Howard Evans
Howard Evans, , was a British trumpeter.Having played in the band of the Welsh Guards and the London Symphony Orchestra, Evans moved into theatre work. He was a member of the line-up of the Albion Band which played for 'Larkrise' at the National Theatre...
in 2006. Eliza Carthy
Eliza Carthy
Eliza Carthy is an English folk musician known for both singing and playing fiddle. She is the daughter of English folk musicians singer/guitarist Martin Carthy and singer Norma Waterson.-Life and career:...
also accompanied the traditional Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
long sword
Long Sword dance
right|YorkshireThe Long Sword dance is a hilt-and-point sword dance recorded mainly in Yorkshire, England. It is related to the rapper sword dance of Northumbria, but the character is fundamentally different as it uses rigid metal or wooden swords, rather than the flexible spring steel rappers used...
team The Goathland Plough Stots in the performance of two dances. During the course of the evening Eliza Carthy was presented with the prestigious Gold Badge of the English Folk Dance and Song Society
English Folk Dance and Song Society
The English Folk Dance and Song Society was formed in 1932 when two organisations merged: the Folk-Song Society and the English Folk Dance Society. The EFDSS, a member-based organisation, was incorporated as a Company limited by guarantee in 1935 and became a Registered Charity The English Folk...
.
The concert was promoted by the Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
based arts consultants and event organisers Mrs Casey Music.
Performers
The Waterson Family:- Davoc Brady
- Eleanor Waterson
- Rachel Straw
- Anne Waterson
- Tim Van Eyken
- Martin Carthy
- Norma Waterson
- Mike Waterson
- Maria Gilhooley
- Eliza Carthy
- Saul Rose
- Oliver Knight
Brass Monkey:
- Martin Carthy
- John Kirkpatrick
- Roger Williams
- Martin Brinsford
The Goathland Plough Stots:
- Characters: Keith Thompson, Malcolm Worley & Les Atkinson
- Dancers: Jack Atkinson, David Atkinson, Daniel Atkinson, Allan Davies, Ian Davies & John Atkinson
- Musicians: Eliza Carthy, Steve Peirson, Andrew Smith & Sally Atkinson
- Plough Boys: Elliot Mayes, Kyle Skelton, Alexander & Mikey Simmonds