Updated Feb 2009
MERLIN'S KEEP
Formed in the late summer of 2006, Merlin's Keep have been playing regular gigs in the Lincolnshire and Yorkshire areas and have built up a loyal and supportive following. With one album, Wide Avalonian Skies, already under their belt, the band's follow-up album, Mind, Body and Folk, which was released on July 17th 2008, has met with critical acclaim.
The band are all friends who have known each other in various contexts for many years and this friendship comes across in their stage dynamics and performances, as they are relaxed, lively and always keen to put on a high quality, exuberant performance.
The band members all contribute to the development of their original material. Lyrics often start in Jo or Sime's hands but everybody contributes to the final product making each original song truly collaborative. Influences are drawn not only from each member's individual musical preferences, ranging across classic rock, folk, Indie, classical, country and Americana, but also from English folklore, poetry and Pagan traditions.
The band also perform popular covers as well as original material in their varied sets including arrangements of traditional tunes such as The Irish Washerwoman and classic songs such as Whiskey In The Jar and After The Goldrush. Three, four and five part harmony singing is one of the band's most special features and an aspect of their performance that constantly develops.
Always keen to grow and play to new audiences, Merlin's Keep are a great live band who will happily tailor their sets to suit venues and audiences from folk clubs to festivals and houses of rock!
Merlin's Keep are:
Sime Naylor: Guitar, vocals
Josie Gray: Vocals, guitar, piano, banjo
Sue Naylor: Vocals, bag o' fun!
Tracey Smith: Fiddles, vocals
Joe Gray: Drums, percussion, vocals
Fiddle: (n) An instrument to tickle human ears by friction of horse's tail on the entrails of a cat.
For more information email merlinskeep@ntlworld.com
or visit Merlin's Keep myspace pages www.myspace.com/merlinskeep