The Askew Sisters

Emily and Hazel Askew are a young duo making waves on the folk scene with their energetic brand of English folk music. Using fiddle and melodeon, they play and sing with an infectious enjoyment and love for the music, winning them fans wherever they go. From rhythmic foot stomping tunes to powerful interpretations of songs and ballads, their playing always guarantees to engage and inspire those who hear.

They've spent the last couple of years playing at venues across the country, from top festivals and folk clubs to London's National Theatre and National Portrait Gallery. After the release of their acclaimed album All in a Garden Green in Autumn 2007, 2008 is set to be their busiest year yet with an Easter tour and numerous summer dates.

"Hazel's rich gutsy voice and inventive melodeon playing combined with the skill of Emily's singing fiddle or soulful cello are a new force to be reckoned with!"
Stirrings Magazine

"What the Askew Sisters do so well is tell the story and allow the music accompanying to help that story-telling along."
EDS Magazine

Well...born and bred in London, Emily and Hazel were the children of two Morris dancers so couldn't really escape the folk. They found themselves growing up through the scene, with frequent trips to ceilidhs and annual family holidays to Sidmouth Festival. As they grew older they became increasingly interested in the music side, returning back to school from the summer holidays wanting to start ceilidh bands (when most of their friends would just came back with a tan).

They began various classical lessons at school and eventually started a folk band - the curiously named Rubber Chicken (don’t ask!). Over the next few years they gained experience, playing their first gigs, and were even the subject of a full article in Folk on Tap magazine (aged just 11 and 14). They also became interested in the dance side of tradition, playing and dancing for Morris, Appalachian and Rapper teams.

However, things really started off a few years later when Emily switched to the fiddle and Hazel decided she'd quite like to play the melodeon (as most 14 year old girls do!). They added a few songs to the repertoire and thought they might as well enter the New Roots competition as a duo, unexpectedly coming away with the top prizes.

Encouraged by this they then recorded a few tracks with Doug Bailey to use as a demo, which Doug then decided to release as an EP on his label WildGoose Records; and so Six by Two was created, a six track EP of English and French tunes with a couple of songs (and dubious multi-coloured front cover).

"These two girls came into the studio to make a demo but as soon as they started to play it was apparent that I was looking at a talent far greater than their years and equal to some of the best performers I have recorded."
Doug Bailey, WildGoose Records

"What strikes me most is the confidence and skill that both girls display in their playing, which belies their young age."
The Folk Mag

"One rather senses that God willing, 50 years hence this little EP will be a collector's item and will fetch a fine price."
Dai Woosnam

The girls spent the next two years working hard, making the transition from promising youngsters to confident, skilled performers. They travelled up and down the country, playing at lots of folk clubs and festivals in 30 counties (and even at the Natural History Museum, under the big dinosaur skeleton in the hall).

They became semi-finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award and were also the subject of an article in fRoots magazine. During this time they defined their own unique style, now focusing mainly on traditional English material.

Hazel decided to develop the song side of the repertoire and began researching material from books and old recordings at the Vaughan Williams Library at Cecil Sharp House. The girls also started working with material from George Gardiner's collections in Hampshire.

Their father Bob Askew had been researching the collections and Emily and Hazel took part in a series of concerts to promote the songs. With all this experience under their belt, the girls then went back to WildGoose studios to record their first album.

They decided it should explore mainly traditional English material, including a few from George Gardiner's collection. They also chose early on that they wouldn't use any session musicians as they wanted the album to show the full sound that two people can create.

So after many days hard work at the WildGoose Studios (and lots of lovely food) All in a Garden Green was born. From foot stomping dance tunes bursting with energy to refreshing interpretations of songs and ballads, All in a Garden Green proved that the sisters had stepped up to the next level.

"As more and more people adopt the mantle of traditional music, it is wonderful to see how they treat the material with respect and are prepared to put in hard work researching and collating songs and tunes."
EDS magazine

"Hazel and Emily are engaging and talented young ladies who are getting things right. They look set to adorn the living tradition for years to come. Vote with bums on seats and hands in wallets."
Living Tradition Magazine

"The breezy robustness of their musicianship is demonstrated in the joyous way the two parts switch around, colluding and colliding during the course of a tune set, adeptly maintaining listener interest while keeping feet tapping....infectious pumping energy characterises their performance."
fRoots magazine

"The big surprise when you see the sisters live is just how big a sound comes out of two small young women and this feeling is renewed by the impression made by this impressive debut CD."
The Folk Diary

The album received brilliant reviews and has been played by radio stations across the UK as well as in America, Canada, France and Australia (and it's rumoured to be doing well in Japan). The girls have also had a full feature in January's Living Tradition Magazine written by Brian Peters.

As a result of all this, 2008 is set to be the girls' busiest year yet, with an ambitious list of gigs including an Easter tour, along with many festivals, folk clubs and a return visit to the National Theatre.

The Askew Sisters - their debut album demonstrates a real depth of understanding...verve and imagination; Rock 'n' Reel

Hazel & Emily Askew