Rosie Doonan and Ben Murray: May 13th 2005
Here are two young singers from folksinging families. We want to promote the appearance of young singers, and to encourage the young into our club Folk at the Grove, Leeds.
These guys are going to be BIG NEWS!
They played half a dozen festivals in 2004 to great acclaim, including the main stage at Broadstairs Folk Week with Dougie MacLean and the main Sunday concert at Bromyard. There is already a buzz going around. Now they are beginning their first year touring folk clubs. What an exciting time!
Ben and Rosie inherit their love of folk music from their respective fathers, Phil Murray and Mick Doonan – both of Hedgehog Pie and The Doonan Family Band – but having said that, these two bring a fresh new approach.
They sing traditional material and write their own (surprisingly mature) songs using arrangements which bring a hint of modern acoustic and jazz to their folk roots .
They play guitar and piano and both sing – she with a voice like a cross between Kate Rusby and Katherine Roberts and he with a voice that would not disgrace a young James Taylor.
but comparisons, though they may be a starting point, are not totally helpful because these two are not imitations of those gone before, as their debut song, Gypsy Davy proves. Catch it on the Evolving Traditions 4 CD. They have an album currently in production, and it's going to be an absolute stunner.
Press Comment
Rosie Doonan and Ben Murray sparkle with originality ... mature harmonics and subtle timings delivered with engaging wit and real empathy ... beautifully understated, a showstopper. BBC 2
In a climate of cool grooves, Rosie Doonan and Ben Murray are set to turn up the heat. Essential Media