Kate Rusby, Laura Marling, Bella Hardy, Julie Fowlis, Eliza Carthy, Jenna Reid, � it seems that contemporary folk is a girls-only club.
But John McCusker, armed with almost every instrument under the sun, proves that men can still do folk without resorting to big beards and woolly jumpers.
He's an edgy, entertaining character live, with a striking shaved head and a presence crafted through years of appearances with The Battlefield Band and Kate Rusby. He has also guested with Paul Weller, Patti Smith and Teenage Fanclub. And toured with Billy Connolly. But his solo albums are the truest representation of his talent.
And both 'Yella Hoose' and 'Goodnight Ginger' are seeing a much-deserved reissue this month. Both albums will be remastered and packaged together
2001's 'Yella Hoose' was the album that really got McCusker noticed as
a solo artist, rather than just the Battlefield Band's fiddle player.
Starting with his own skills as a multi-instrumentalist, he brought
together a great supporting cast, with guests including Mike
McGoldrick, Ian Carr and Andy Cutting. All are well known on the folk
circuit.
And an appearance by Kate Rusby, at that time being described as a
'folk superstar' by the national press, got the album even more
attention. In fact, McCusker and Rusby were married that same year.
'Goodnight Ginger' was McCusker's third album, released in 2004 and
rated by folk magazines as one of the great albums of the year. It's an
album full of memorable tunes, and despite McCusker's mastery of the
fiddle there's no showing off. The tunes always take centrestage, not
the musicians.
From foot-stomping jigs and reels to gentle and atmospheric
soundtracks, John McCusker is a master musician. Excellent stuff, and
these may be the folk albums of the year � again.
Originally written for the Revolutionary Music column in the Weekend Guardian, published every Friday and available from shops and cafes across West Sussex.
http://www.artistsandmakers.com/article.php/20080830102048701