Edinburgh Tradfest - Martin Carthy & Eliza Carthy

‘…brave and anything but predictable’ **** – The Guardian

The good Doctor Martin Carthy and his twice Mercury nominated daughter Eliza Carthy, join forces to perform an eclectic range of songs and tunes from their vast family repertoire, drawing from the traditional canon as well as selections from a more contemporary songbook. Since their Topic Records album release, The Elephant, in 2014, this duo format has gone from strength to strength, allowing each artist to showcase their unique individual musical talents, as well as highlighting their symbiotic bond, with instinctive and sensitive arrangements and accompaniment for each other.

Martin is a legendary ballad singer and guitarist who has influenced generations of artists, including Bob Dylan – with whom he shared an 80th birthday celebration in May 2021 - and Paul Simon, while Eliza has been twice-nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and a multiple-award winner at the BBC Radio Two Folk awards.

For almost 60 years, Martin Carthy has been one of folk music’s greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it.

Eliza Carthy, who marks her 30th year as a professional musician in 2022, is undoubtedly one of the most impressive and engaging performers of her generation. Twice nominated for the Mercury Prize and winner of innumerable other accolades over her career to date, Eliza has performed and recorded with a diverse array of artists including, Paul Weller, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Patrick Wolf and Bob Neuwirth. More than most, Eliza Carthy has revitalised folk music and captured the most hardened of dissenters with intelligent, charismatic and boundary-bending performances.

Eliza grew up immersed in the world of traditional music. She still divides her time between touring and recording as well as engaging in numerous pioneering solo and band projects, such as The Wayward Band and more recently, Restitute, inspired by her last solo album.

This gig is part of Edinburgh Tradfest 2022.

The Traverse Theatre is funded by Creative Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council, with additional support from The Scottish Government Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund.

PRESS REVIEWS

`Arguably the greatest English folk song performer, writer, collector and editor of them all’ -Q Magazine

’Eliza Carthy is one of the figureheads of the English folk revival … compelling’ -Evening Standard

‘A gloriously natural singer’– Q magazine

‘Seriously impressive’– Telegraph

‘…brave and anything but predictable’ **** -The Guardian