Words and photos Greg Russell & Ciarán Algar by Pete Heywood A Road Well Travelled “...History does tend to repeat itself and, if they keep their heads screwed on and he Living Tradition has their feet on the ground, it suggests that never been one to laud the has been wide ranging - a head, Tlatest young musician as they will have a long term association heart and soul investment which being the future of folk music. goes far beyond that normally Such predictions rarely live up expected from an independent to expectations and first albums, with the music they so obviously enjoy...” record label. With two albums whilst benefitting from an element under their belts, their latest of freshness, when viewed over project is a DVD of a live concert time often lack a depth that comes performance. The recording for with experience. embarking on as a soloist, and can be there to answer questions. this took place in June at the with Ciarán joining Greg on dates They’re friends though, before Theatre Royal in Workington. This Currently on the crest of a that he had previously arranged. anything else. At the same time, was on the home patch for Paul wave, Greg Russell and Ciarán Although retaining their own it’s really nice to be able just and Linda, both having worked Algar display a maturity in their identities, they all clearly enjoy to do it and live it without too extensively on all aspects of the performance which belies their each other’s company and are much meddling. Make my own productions in this, their local youth. Fast developers or early able to develop a close musical mistakes, I suppose, learn on theatre. The technical aspects starters? Probably a bit of both, rapport over time. It would be too the job. That said, I’ve never felt of the recording were simply but my guess would be that it was easy to interview Greg and Ciarán ‘alone’ or stranded. There have incredible, a multi camera shoot the early start that gave them their as a duo without respecting their always been very supportive using over 20 cameras - a set-up edge. individuality. Twins often suffer people.” that Spielberg might have been from this; people assume that proud of. Greg and Ciarán are embarking because they look alike they must With regard to their professional on a road trodden by many before think alike. Catching up with them development as a duo, Paul The show rolled from start to finish them. History does tend to repeat during a hectic day of preparation, and Linda Adams’ input and with no interruptions – no mean itself and, if they keep their heads performance and filming for a live guidance has been significant. feat and a credit to the expertise of screwed on and their feet on the DVD, my conversation was mainly From the stage, Greg and Ciarán the team involved. This is another ground, it suggests that they will with Greg. acknowledge the risk that Fellside example of people batting for have a long term association took with them, committing both Greg and Ciarán. A friend of Paul, with the music they so obviously Both Greg and Ciarán have to a debut recording and a longer Edward Cooper, teaches video enjoy. Some parallels are supportive families and a firm term relationship at a time when production at Carlisle College of already fairly obvious, yet there grounding in traditional music they had barely a handful of songs Art and pulled together a skilled are also differences in time and and although not formalised, they together. “Fellside’s support has technical team for the occasion, place which can throw up new have benefitted from a variety of been invaluable. First for taking some of them former students choices and challenges. They mentors, some closely involved, a massive punt on us. We’d done now working professionally in are enjoying mainstream media others simply keen to ‘look out for about three sets as a duo when film and television production. attention at an early stage of their them’. Greg explains: “I’ve never they agreed to take us on. Also, Attention to detail, and a further musical journey and even if this had ‘one’ mentor. There have Paul didn’t really know the sort of example of the heart and soul spotlight exists only for a short been people in certain areas who material we were going to produce attachment, was Linda assembling time, it brings opportunities that, have been extremely supportive. during the recording session. a group of singers to act as a for previous generations, might Paul and Linda at Fellside, for As well as the faith, without choir for their rendition of The have taken many years to achieve. example, have always been there the knowledge and support of Rose In June. Paul Adams had to bounce ideas off and talk things Fellside, I don’t think I or we sent a copy of a Louis Killen CD to Comparisons with people like through with. I think there are would have been in the position Greg, highlighting a song with a Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick people throughout time who have to produce an album at that time. simple comment: “Listen to this”. and Robin & Barry Dransfield gone out of their way to ‘check’ So I am eternally grateful for the That song, The Rose In June, has have already been made and on me, in a helpful and supportive start, launch pad, contacts and become a tour de force in Greg Greg and Ciarán are thrilled with as opposed to an annoying way, continued support we receive.” and Ciarán’s repertoire. It has a this level of compliment. Parallels but as I’ve developed friendships powerful narrative and although with Martin and Dave include their and spoken to people, I’ve learnt Paul and Linda have seen polished and arranged for stage accidental coming together as things. There are people who I most things before and appear performance, Greg’s essentially duos, with Swarb joining Martin on talk with quite regularly, people determined to pass their direct delivery captivates the a folk club tour that he was initially who’ve seen it all before or who experience on. Their contribution listener. The Living Tradition - Page 34 The Living Tradition - Page 35 Greg “I did indeed grow up in a musical and I heard Liege & Leaf, and they was anything relating to my local which really stirs an emotion, “...what else household. Mum sings in choirs have got similarities but are both area. I think it would help if I whatever that may be.” and Dad has always played in quite different. So I thought, ‘what was able to read music. Hearing various bands, local and national. else can I discover in this big folk other singers would be more “Accompaniment wise, Ciarán can I discover I suppose most notably on that music thing, this tradition?’” likely to prompt me to dig into will bring a tune, or me a song, front were his involvements in Paul the archives rather than starting and we play it to the other. The Metzer’s Band and also the Family “I’d also attend local folk clubs from the archive itself. It was like other will jump in and start in this big folk Mahone, fronted by Mark Radcliffe with my parents and going to the that with Brian Peters - I heard playing along and see what now of Radio 2.” local folk club not only gave me his version of The Wild Rover and happens. Sometimes, it just a chance to start to play music in asked him where he got it from works. Sometimes we have to music thing, this “It was Mum and Dad’s fault that I public but also to hear more and and he sent me some website really work at it and that will started listening to folk music. But more songs. Whether I’d have links to look up.” include one saying to the other tradition...” as soon as I’d been introduced, found folk music without mum and what sounds nice/not nice about I wanted to discover more. It dad - I can’t really comment - I’d “The mixture of stuff we do what the other is doing. Also sometimes, interestingly, an was never forced. Folk Rock really like to think I would, but as includes original material, accompaniment might actually was predominantly the music in soon as I’d been introduced to interpreted traditional songs and change the way we do the song the house; Fairport, Steeleye, the music, I knew I wanted to stay interpretations of other people’s Photo: Daniel Rothwell or tune slightly. And it’s also Fotheringay etc., so that was involved.” songs. I don’t think I have a my introduction, but as soon as bias, taste wise, to any of the possible that an accompaniment may change from gig to gig. Greg and Ciarán went on to musicians of an older generation I’d been introduced, I started We spoke a bit about the duo’s above. I don’t really know what Ciarán is so talented that win the BBC Young Folk Award have had more than one job discovering more.” repertoire; where Greg learned makes me go for a song. There he changes things, within a in 2012 and the following year or another wage earner in the his songs, what inspired him and are some songs that I would love framework, fairly often. But added the Horizon Award in family.