On Clay Hill
BELINDA KEMPSTER AND FRAN FOOTE

CD £12.00 Exc VAT: £10.00
  • SKU: SITW013CD
  • UPC: 5056032323384
  • Release Date: 19 July 2019

Description

Label Review.

2019 album. Stick In The Wheel harmony singer Fran Foote's debut album with her mother, Belinda Kempster.

Our Overview.

Belinda Kempster and Fran Foote are the refreshingly honest and humble mother and daughter duo from Essex UK, who sing traditional folk songs from their family and home county without frills or fuss. And Clay Hill Road, Basildon, Essex is the location which inspired their debut album title ‘On Clay Hill’ as they both have always lived near there.

Belinda began singing traditional songs in the 1960s: “Our family has a history of farming and working on the land; these songs come from that way of life - at work andat play”. She met her husband in a folk club, and Fran grew up immersed in the local folk scene, learning songs from her parents from a very young age.

Many of their songs were learned from Fran’s great uncle and farm labourer Ernie Austin, who was recorded for Topic’s ‘Voice of the People’ release ‘Flash Company’ in 1974. Austin lived and worked in the small village of Bentley, just outside Colchester, and sang songs related to his work and recreation. Stuff you’d sing down the pub. ‘Ernest Austin is now 83 years of age and he lives in a small village to the east of Colchester in Essex.

This collection of songs are made up of those taught to Belinda by Ernie and from private family recordings. Also included are personal favourites from Belinda’s repertoire: “we want our family’s music to be documented - this is the tradition of our family and singing these songs together feels like coming home”.

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