This
week I am compiling my blog on a band much closer to my home in
Shropshire, than last week’s band The Yeah Yeah Yeahs from across the
pond. I refer to Whalebone, who are an acoustic guitar duo comprising
Steve Downs ( my boss on the Severn Valley Railway – Steve is Station
Manager at Eardington Station) and Charlotte Watson. They were
originally a duo, with violinist Sarah Ibberson joining to make up a
threesome, but then Sarah left a few years ago.
They
have been writing & recording instrumental music since 2007, and
have been inspired by the natural world, folklore in general, and their
lovely surroundings in Shropshire. Much of their music has its roots
in Celtic folk music of Britain, with some tunes rock-infused, indeed
many classic rock tunes seem suited to the 2 acoustic guitar format.
Since 2021, the 2 guitarists have been concentrating not only on the
work of Whalebone, but also creating new music as The Bare Bones and
Earthbone. I am told that since 2021, that they have had around 30
million streams on Spotify alone. To this end, Steve & Char have in
2022 released (as Whalebone) ‘What they Do’ and (as The Bare Bones)
‘The Bare Bones’.
They
have assisted the Arts Council in 2019 with music & poetry, with
poet Jean Atkin, in the making of ‘Understories’. They also linked up with Kate Innes in ‘Flock of Words’, and have shown
conscientious concern for the environment e.g. covers for their
recordings are made from 100% recycled card with no shrink wrap.
I
won’t name all of their albums, EP’s etc (including those made in the
names of The Bare Bones and Earthbone) but I can assure you all, that
collectively they realise a double figure total. I have seen the band
play both as a threesome, and also as the two guitarists and
can honestly say that like their enthusiastic followers , I have
always enjoyed their gigs. In 2020 the band played their 800th live
performance, and released an album called ‘Totally Plucked’, which
featured on BBC Radio 3. These days however, Steve & Char are
concentrating more on working from their rural Shropshire studio rather
than doing live gig.
They
have their own web site here, and I would
encourage you to purchase goods via that medium –you won’t be
disappointed! The track I am requesting lex to play this week is
‘Nebraska’ from the ‘Totally Plucked’ album. This album features 14
tracks covering many musical moods and is Whalebone’s first guitar duo
album since ‘There to Here’. The album is augmented in parts with in
addition to steel and nylon string guitars, there is mandolin,
bouzouki, tenor guitar, bass, shruti box & low whistle.
