Waterson:Carthy
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy |
| Defunct | 2022 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | British folk music |
Waterson:Carthy was a British folk ensemble originally formed by Norma Waterson (vocals), her spouse Martin Carthy (guitar and vocals), and their daughter Eliza Carthy (fiddle and vocals).
History
Their musical selections primarily centered on traditional British songs and melodies, occasionally incorporating modern compositions. The group’s main instrumentation consisted of Martin Carthy’s guitar, Eliza Carthy’s fiddle, alongside melodeon players Saul Rose (1996–2000, 2007–2022) and Tim Van Eyken (2000–2007), with additional instruments featured on studio recordings. They upheld the tradition of unaccompanied singing originally established by Norma and Martin's earlier family band, The Watersons.
Their first album, Waterson:Carthy (1994), was predominantly a trio project, including contributions from Eliza’s partner Nancy Kerr. The follow-up album Common Tongue (1996) saw an increase in guest musicians, notably melodeon player Saul Rose, who became an official member by the third release, Broken Ground (1999). Shortly after, Rose departed to pursue a career in pharmaceuticals and was succeeded by Tim van Eyken in 2000. This lineup produced the albums A Dark Light (2002) and Fishes & Fine Yellow Sand (2004), establishing their status as a prominent live folk act.
The 2006 album Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man, featuring the vocal group The Devil's Interval, was regarded as a continuation of The Watersons’ 1965 release Frost & Fire. The band resurrected The Watersons’ traditional pre-Christmas Frost & Fire tours, which by 2006 had evolved to include a Mummers Play, brass instruments, and expanded participation from The Devil's Interval.
In 2007, Van Eyken departed to concentrate on his solo endeavors; his last performance with the group took place at London's Royal Albert Hall in May of that year. Saul Rose rejoined immediately afterward, allowing the band to continue touring.
Each member also sustained flourishing solo careers alongside their work with the group. Norma released individual albums and performed duets with Martin. Martin enjoyed a solo career spanning over five decades and collaborated with Brass Monkey, Dave Swarbrick until 2015, John Kirkpatrick, Eliza Carthy, and occasionally performed with Blue Murder. Eliza pursued her solo work as well as duets with Saul Rose. Saul performed with various groups including Faustus, Random, Morris Offspring, and Dansaul.
Martin, Norma, Eliza, and Waterson:Carthy collectively earned numerous nominations and awards at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including honors for Best Group and Best Traditional Track for their rendition of Raggle Taggle Gypsy in 2000.
Norma passed away on 30 January 2022 at the age of 82.
Discography
- Waterson:Carthy (1994)
- Common Tongue (1996)
- Broken Ground (1999)
- A Dark Light (2002)
- The Watersons: Mighty River of Song (2004) – features previously unreleased Waterson:Carthy tracks
- Fishes And Fine Yellow Sand (2004)
- Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man (2006)
- The Definitive Collection (compilation, 2005)
DVD
- In Search of English Folk Song (1997 BBC film directed by Ken Russell)
- Showcases Fairport Convention, Donovan, Osibisa, Eliza Carthy, The Albion Band, Waterson:Carthy, Edward II.
- Released on DVD in 2008 exclusively for Region 1