John Wilson: September 16th 2005
We recommend John Wilson to you as a singer of traditional songs with a special quality of voice. You will not be disappointed. He always affects the audience wherever he sings. Not very well known outside of the North perhaps, but one of the best singers around. The following is taken from his publicity:
Singer of Folk Songs, Traditional and More Recent
John is well-known in Folk Clubs and at Festivals throughout the North-East of England for his fine voice, powerful, unaccompanied singing and captivating guitar playing.
He is a gifted musician, with a talent for setting ancient poems to music. The romantic ballad ‘Lord Ullin’s Daughter’; and a Thomas Campbell poem, originally published in 1809, is impressively revived with John’s own beautiful melody.
He writes and sings a few of his own songs, although half of John’s material is traditional, including the gentle ‘Annan Water’ and the tragic ‘Border Widow’s Lament’.
Songs by Robert Burns and Joan Baez are delightful features of John’s repertoire. Whether the song is traditional or modern, the message contained within the lyric is most important for John.
Each song is very special to him, and his love of singing has the power to reach out and entrance his audience. All time favourites such as ‘Sammy’s Bar’ and ‘Sally’s Free and Easy’ by Cyril Tawney always gives John’s audiences plenty of opportunity to join in.
A versatile performer, you may catch John singing with The Darlington Mummers, if you are able to see through his many disguises.