Jim Moray

WEBSITE: http://www.jimmoray.co.uk

MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/jimmoray

Jim Moray is one of the most consistently inventive musicians working in traditional folk music today. After three ground-breaking and award-winning albums 2003s BBC Radio2 Folk Album of Year Sweet England, Jim Moray in 2006 and fRoots Critics Poll and Mojo Folk Album of the Year winner Low Culture in 2008 - he now finds himself at the forefront of a new folk revival in the UK, and hailed as a pivotal influence by a new generation of folk musicians while still only being in his 20s himself.

Recording his first album Sweet England while still studying classical composition at Birmingham Conservatoire in the day and playing drums in power-pop bands by night, Jim Moray emerged onto the UK folk scene seemingly fully formed in 2003. His imaginative reimagining of English traditional music blended with orchestral flourishes, guitars and electronics soon found him awarded the unprecedented combination of Best Newcomer and Best Album at the 2004 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. After notching up a live reputation with performances at Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival and WOMAD, and alongside Richard Thompson and Oysterband, Jim followed this with 2006s Jim Moray and Low Culture in 2008. Awarded the prestigious fRoots critics poll prize for best album and Mojo magazine Folk Album Of The Year, Moray assembled an all-star band including Saul Rose (Waterson:Carthy, Eliza Carthy Band) and William Bowerman (La Roux) to headline summer festivals through 2009. He most recently broke with convention, giving his fourth album In Modern History away on the cover of Songlines magazine before releasing a deluxe two disc version in June 2010.

Outside of his own albums, he has branched out as producer of his sister Jackie Oates award-winning Hyperboreans album and been awarded Honorary Life Membership of Birmingham Conservatoire for outstanding achievement in music.

Supported by

EWAN McLENNAN

Currently in contention for the prestigious Horizon Award in this year's BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Ewan McClennan is one of the most exciting new talents currently emerging from the UK traditional folk and roots scene. Influenced by the music of his native Scotland, but also political folk songs and ballads from further afield, Ewan is equally at home composing his own timeless folk songs as he is taking on traditional numbers. Having studied classical guitar for several years, Ewan believes the training to have firmly shaped his technique and approach to playing, as well as his songwriting and interpretation of folk music today. This being the case, Ewan is able to silence his audiences with some beautiful instrumental pieces alone, but when combined with the power of his voice and the passion of his storytelling, it's clear that in time his name will join the greats of traditional British folk music.

"Every now and again Scotland produces a male singer with real class. One of the most exciting new voices I've heard in years - deep commitment and understanding is the bedrock and there's a sure touch here that runs through the music like iron" Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

http://www.ewanmclennan.co.uk