Kerfuffle
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Headquarters | England |
| Products | Folk music albums |
Kerfuffle was an English folk ensemble consisting of four members, established in 2001 across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire regions. The lineup featured Hannah James (accordion, piano, vocals, step dancing), Sam Sweeney (fiddle, percussion), Chris Thornton-Smith (guitar), and Tom Sweeney (bass guitar). In 2007, Jamie Roberts succeeded Thornton-Smith as guitarist. The group officially ended their collaboration in August 2010.
History
The origins of Kerfuffle trace back to when Sam and Tom Sweeney encountered Hannah James at Derby’s In The Tradition Award contest, initially forming a trio. Following their triumph in the under-18 division of the 2002 Wiltshire Folk Association Young Folk Award, they incorporated guitarist Chris Thornton-Smith. This achievement led to their showcase performance at the 2002 Trowbridge Village Pump Festival.
Their first album, Not to Scale, was launched in June 2003 on RootBeat Records with production by Steafan Hannigan. Its release aligned with their participation in Derbyshire’s Festival of the Peak. That summer saw them playing at prominent folk events throughout the UK, including Sidmouth and Trowbridge festivals.
For the 2004 release K2, guitarist Chris Thornton-Smith also undertook sound engineering responsibilities. The album's debut was followed by numerous festival appearances such as Cleckheaton, Priddy Folk Fayre, Stainsby, Saltburn, Whitby Folk Week, Towersey, Bromyard, and a Show of Hands performance at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens. In 2005, they were finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award.
By 2005, Kerfuffle expanded their reach into theatres and arts venues, including a post-show performance at the Linbury Theatre within the Royal Opera House. That year they also recorded a live session for BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction program.
Their third album, Links, released in 2006, was followed by festival appearances at Bromyard Folk Festival, Brampton Live, Festival at the Edge among others. A track from Links was selected for inclusion on the 2007 compilation Folk Rising.
After a successful summer in 2007 featuring performances at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention and Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Jamie Roberts joined Kerfuffle as guitarist, replacing Chris Thornton-Smith. The band’s fourth studio album, To The Ground, came out in 2008.
Also in 2007, Sam Sweeney became a member of the eleven-piece folk collective Bellowhead.
In April 2010, after nine years together, Kerfuffle announced their decision to disband. Their farewell tour included appearances at Sidmouth and Priddy festivals before culminating with a final concert at Shrewsbury Folk Festival that August.
Later that year in December 2010, Sweeney, James, and Roberts toured performing songs from Lighten The Dark: A Midwinter Album, with Rob Harbron filling in for Tom Sweeney. This tour featured support from Hannah James’ band Lady Maisery and incorporated elements of clog dancing.
Kerfuffle briefly reunited for a UK Christmas tour during winter 2012, showcasing material from Lighten the Dark alongside Hannah James’ clog dancing performances.
Discography
- Not to Scale (2003)
- K2 (2004)
- Links (2006)
- To The Ground (2008)
- Lighten The Dark: A Midwinter Album (2009)