Hazel Askew; vocals, melodeon
Hazel is now known for her singing and melodeon playing, but she started her musical education on the specialist music scheme at Pimlico School, where she studied flute, concert harp, voice and piano. However her interest in folk music meant she spent a lot of her spare time playing in sessions, workshops as well as for Morris, Rapper and Appalachian dance teams.
She started studying folk flute with Sarah Allen of Flook and took part in Ethno England and Flanders, teaching and learning from other young musicians from Europe and beyond.
Then one day she decided it was time to learn a "big, loud instrument" so taught herself the melodeon (much to the dismay of her neighbours). The combination of fiddle and melodeon proved very successful so she then decided to start singing as well. She became very interested in traditional song, loving the brilliant stories and characters.
Hazel began researching songs from old books and recordings, becoming particularly inspired by strong singers such as Frankie Armstrong and Peter Bellamy, and the way they told the story. Perhaps this shows in her voice which itself has been described as "powerful", "rich" and "captivating”.
Hazel recently started new band - Lady Maisery - a vocal harmony trio with Hannah James (Kerfuffle, The Demon Barbers) and Rowan Rheingans (Fidola). Inspired by folk singing traditions of the UK and northern Europe, Lady Maisery sing songs and ballads both unaccompanied and with backing from their combined instrumental talents on accordion, harp and fiddle – www.ladymaisery.com.
Hazel recently finished her degree in English Literature with Music at Newcastle University, where she won the Harry Clews Prize for highest final recital mark.
Apart from her work on the folk scene, Hazel also sings and plays the harp with medieval ensemble The Artisans, with whom she performs regularly in London and recently sung live with on BBC Radio 3.
In 2010 she was chosen as a soloist for Brighton Early Music Festival's world première of DeadHead, a specially commissioned work by Orlando Gough and poet John Agard.
Last summer, Hazel composed the score and musically directed a production of King Lear for Shakespeare in Styria, as well as a production of Antony and Cleopatra for London's Hampstead Players.