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

23rd June 2008

Hope you’re all having a good start to summer and enjoying the sun.

We started our festival season at the end of May, firstly with a trip up to Shepley Festival, which was brilliant, but was very cold! (We’d never before been under stage spotlights and been able to see our breathe!) After that we spent the Bank holiday weekend with a brief return visit to old favourite Chippenham, before journeying up to Chester, which was a first visit for us. We seem to have been in Cheshire a lot recently as last weekend we also played Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival which was lovely and sunny.

We’re also excited to announce we’re going to be on Proper Record’s ‘Folk Rising 2’ compilation – the follow up to last year’s Folk Rising CD, which showcases up and coming artists from the Folk scene. After the success of last year’s CD, this year they’ve made it a double CD, featuring our version of ‘The Old Virginia Lowlands’ as well as tracks from lots of other young artists including, Bella Hardy, Mawkin:Causley and many more.

Official release date is 7/7/08, to get your copy see:

www.properdistribution.com or
www.amazon.co.uk/Folk-Rising-Vol-2-Various-Artists/dp/B001AI92PU

Next up are a few folk clubs, before summer really gets going with Priddy, Sidmouth, Whitby and Fylde. We’re also pleased to announce we’ll now be playing at Towersey Village Festival too. Details here...

Subscribe to our newsletter to be kept up to date with gigs, news, etc.

Hazel and Emily x

8th May 2008

Spring tour completed!

Hello!

Well a couple of weeks ago we finally finished our Spring tour. We had a brilliant time and it was lovely to see so many different clubs and venues. Was also interesting to go to lots of different parts of the country, especially our ventures up north during the last week (so much colder!), but Hazel managed to distract herself by buying a medieval harp! Watch this space! So thanks so much to everyone who came to see us, we had some very good turn outs, including a record number at one club, which was very nice!

We also spent some time back at WildGoose studios doing some session work on Tom and Barbara Brown’s album on vocals, fiddle, melodeons (which required borrowing some boxes in strange keys!) cello, flute and even a bit of sopranino recorder!! The album should be out in the next few months.

At the moment we’re having a little break, Emily is getting on with her work at music college and Hazel has been playing the harp a lot as well as returning to the day job. She is also on the search for a second hand 2½ row melodeon, so if anyone one is selling one or knows of one for sale let her know! On the subject of selling, Emily has a Tim Phillips fiddle which she is selling, email us at info@askewsisters.co.uk for more info.

Unfortunately we’ve just heard the news that Cleethorpes Folk Festival has been cancelled, which is a great shame especially as we’d never been before. However we’re now going to be at Chippenham Folk Festival for the beginning of the bank holiday weekend instead, before going up to Chester Folk Festival as planned. Thanks to Bob and Gill Berry for having us back at Chippenham at such short notice.

Next up will be Shepley in a couple of weeks which we’ve heard lots of good things about so should be a good weekend!

Subscribe to our newsletter to be kept up to date with gigs, news, etc.

Hope you had a good May day,

Hazel and Emily x

6th March 08

New Website!

Hello!

Welcome to our new website, hope you like it! Have a look round and check out the new gig list, updated biogs, and much more! Thanks to Dave Baker for all the wonderful work he has done re-designing it for the last month or so.

We have new sound clips up from our new album "All in a Garden Green", which you can now buy online by credit or debit card using Paypal which is secure and free - you don't need a PayPal account. If you prefer, you can order online by email and pay by cheque or postal order. Buyers outside the UK can pay by PayPal using the email order form.

Also check out the current edition of The Living Tradition magazine which has a full interview with us in!

Next week we begin our Easter touring period which is very exciting! Check out the tour dates page to see if we’re playing near you!

Subscribe to our newsletter to be kept up to date with gigs, news, etc.

Think that’s all for now, hope you’re all having a good March!

Hazel and Emily x