Karine Polwart
Encyclopedia
Karine Polwart is a Scottish
singer-songwriter
. She writes and performs music with a strong folk
and roots feel, her songs dealing with a variety of issues from alcoholism to genocide. She has been most recognised for her solo career, winning three awards at the BBC Folk Awards in 2005, and was previously a member of Malinky
and Battlefield Band
.
town of Banknock
and had an interest in music from an early age. She has described her whole family as being interested in music and one of her brothers, Steven, is also a professional musician who plays guitar in the Karine Polwart band, whilst her sister Kerry is developing her own musical career with the group The Poems.
Despite an active musical career from a young age, including forming her own band KP and the Minichips at age 10, Polwart was discouraged from studying music at school and ended up studying politics and philosophy at the University of Dundee
. After graduating with a First Class Degree in Philosophy
Polwart moved to Glasgow
to study for a Masters in Philosophical Inquiry.
Her first job after her studies was as a philosophy tutor in a primary school, a job she describes as giving her a 'massive buzz'. After this she spent six years working for the Scottish Women's Aid
movement on issues such as domestic and child abuse and young people's rights and these experiences have influenced her songwriting.
Polwart initially gained prominence as lead singer of the group Malinky
. With the release of their debut album Last Leaves in January 2000, Polwart left her job to concentrate on her musical career. After successful stints with Malinky
, macAlias and Battlefield Band
, and contributions to three volumes (Volumes 7, 8 and 9) of Linn Records
' The Complete Songs of Robert Burns
project, she decided to embark on a solo career. In 2003 she released her first solo album, Faultlines
. Written and recorded with assistance from the Scottish Arts Council
, Faultlines won the Best Album award at the 2005 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
. This award, along with 2 others at the same ceremony, increased Polwart's profile not just in the folk community but also in the wider musical arena.
The songs on Faultlines cover a variety of topics, and although she has claimed at live performances that they are all quite depressing, many have an uplifting aspect. This is particularly notable in "The Sun's Comin' Over The Hill" (which won Best Original Song at the BBC Folk Awards 2005) which tells the story of woman who reacts to the death of her partner through a period of depression, drink and drugs, but has a more optimistic chorus, with the narrator foreseeing an end to this period. There are exceptions to this: "Waterlily" — the tale of a man whose lover is killed during the war in Yugoslavia, based on the book Cold Night Lullaby by Colin Mackay
— offers no such comfort. "Only One Way", on the other hand, is an upbeat song with a strong political theme and some biting humour.
In April 2006 Polwart released her second solo album Scribbled in Chalk. This album was heralded with much critical acclaim receiving impressive reviews from amongst others, The Scotsman
, The Sunday Times
, The Independent on Sunday, Time Out and BBC Music online
. A UK wide tour followed as well as appearances on BBC 2's Culture Show, Simon Mayo's Album show on Radio 2, Mike Harding's folk show on Radio 2, BBC Radio Scotland on the Janice Forsyth show and the Janice Long Late show on Radio 2. Polwart's music also reached a wider audience when her songs were used during the opening sequence of a Hollyoaks
episode in July 2006 and for the final programme of The Hairy Bikers' Cookbook
.
Like Faultlines, Scribbled in Chalk
often looks at the darker side of life with tales of sex trafficking ("Maybe there's a Road"), the holocaust ("Baleerie Baloo", which is about the missionary Jane Haining
) and the uncertainties of life ("Hole in the Heart"). But these stories of despair are balanced by others that describe the joy of a slower life ("Take Its Own Time"), of hope triumphing over cynicism ("Where the Smoke Blows") and the wonder of the universe ("Terminal Star").
According to her official website, she believes that songs should stand up by themselves. However, for the sake of those interested in the backstory behind the songs, the website provides information about each of them on the basis that even if a song does work by itself, sometimes the story behind it can make it more meaningful. She has also made guitar tablature available for several of her songs through her website, including notes on tuning and style.
As well as her solo work, Polwart spent much of 2006 collaborating with other artists on a variety of projects; Roddy Woomble
, the lead singer of Idlewild
, asked her to help co-write and provide backing vocals for his solo album, My Secret is My Silence
, whilst Polwart provided several original songs for the BBC Radio 2 music/social documentary series The Radio Ballads. Two of these songs, "Can't Weld A Body" and "Firethief", would later appear on her albums Fairest Floo'er
and This Earthly Spell
respectively. Polwart also supported The Beautiful South
on their tour and she guested with David Knopfler
at The Globe Theatre for a charity benefit for Reprieve.
At the 2006 Hogmanay Live
celebrations on BBC Scotland
, Polwart played several of her songs and also dueted with Paolo Nutini
. Toward the end of the year, she became one of the founder members of a genre-crossing musical collective called The Burns Unit
, which has since performed at festivals. The other members are Sushil K Dade, Emma Pollock
, Chris Difford
, Kenny Anderson
, singer Kim Edgar, pianist Michael Johnston and rap artist MC Soom T. The collective issued its debut album, Side Show, in August 2010.
2007 saw Polwart playing once again at Celtic Connections
both with her band and collaborating with other artists including Dick Gaughan
and Roddy Woomble
. She took time off from live performance during 2007 as she was pregnant with her first child. During this time she recorded two albums: Fairest Floo'er
comprising mostly traditional songs, and This Earthly Spell
, containing only original compositions.
Polwart also sings with Corrina Hewat and Annie Grace in, what they describe as, a 'girly trio'.
In March 2009 Polwart took part in the Darwin Song Project
, a multi-artist songwriting retreat organised by the Shrewsbury Folk Festival
to create songs that had a 'resonance and relevance' to Darwin. A CD was released in August 2009.
Polwart's website announced in February 2010 that she intends to take a year's "maternity leave" (Polwart's daughter, Rosa, was born on 1 April 2010) but will perform with the Burns Unit in the summer. She also recorded an EP with Lau
which was released through her website in July 2010.
Polwart releases music through her own Hegri Music imprint, named from the Gaelic word for heron
. Polwart describes the heron as her favourite animal and her song "Follow the Heron", which she has recorded both solo (on the Scribbled in Chalk
album) and with Malinky (on thr 3 Ravens album), has been much covered by artists including The McCalmans
, Robert Lawrence and Cathie Ryan
. The CD booklet for Polwart's Scribbled in Chalk includes a heron hidden in one of Sarah Roberts' illustrations.
Occasional guest members include: Martin Green, Corrina Hewat and Aidan O'Rourke.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. She writes and performs music with a strong folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and roots feel, her songs dealing with a variety of issues from alcoholism to genocide. She has been most recognised for her solo career, winning three awards at the BBC Folk Awards in 2005, and was previously a member of Malinky
Malinky
Malinky is a Scottish folk band specialising in Scots song.Formed in autumn 1998, the original members were Karine Polwart from Banknock, Stirlingshire , Steve Byrne from Arbroath , Mark Dunlop from Garryduff, Co...
and Battlefield Band
Battlefield Band
Battlefield Band is a Scottish traditional music group. Founded in Glasgow in 1969, they have released over 30 albums and undergone many changes of lineup. As of 2010, there are no founder members in the band....
.
Biography
Polwart grew up in the small StirlingshireStirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling is a registration county of Scotland, based around Stirling, the former county town. It borders Perthshire to the north, Clackmannanshire and West Lothian to the east, Lanarkshire to the south, and Dunbartonshire to the south-west.Until 1975 it was a county...
town of Banknock
Banknock
Banknock is a village within the Falkirk council area in Central Scotland. The village is west-southwest of Falkirk, east-northeast of Kilsyth and north-northeast of Cumbernauld....
and had an interest in music from an early age. She has described her whole family as being interested in music and one of her brothers, Steven, is also a professional musician who plays guitar in the Karine Polwart band, whilst her sister Kerry is developing her own musical career with the group The Poems.
Despite an active musical career from a young age, including forming her own band KP and the Minichips at age 10, Polwart was discouraged from studying music at school and ended up studying politics and philosophy at the University of Dundee
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
. After graduating with a First Class Degree in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
Polwart moved to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to study for a Masters in Philosophical Inquiry.
Her first job after her studies was as a philosophy tutor in a primary school, a job she describes as giving her a 'massive buzz'. After this she spent six years working for the Scottish Women's Aid
Scottish Women's Aid
Scottish Women's Aid is a feminist charity campaigning to prevent domestic violence against women and their children in Scotland. It was founded in 1973 and is an umbrella organisation for the 39 affiliated local Women's Aid groups in Scotland...
movement on issues such as domestic and child abuse and young people's rights and these experiences have influenced her songwriting.
Polwart initially gained prominence as lead singer of the group Malinky
Malinky
Malinky is a Scottish folk band specialising in Scots song.Formed in autumn 1998, the original members were Karine Polwart from Banknock, Stirlingshire , Steve Byrne from Arbroath , Mark Dunlop from Garryduff, Co...
. With the release of their debut album Last Leaves in January 2000, Polwart left her job to concentrate on her musical career. After successful stints with Malinky
Malinky
Malinky is a Scottish folk band specialising in Scots song.Formed in autumn 1998, the original members were Karine Polwart from Banknock, Stirlingshire , Steve Byrne from Arbroath , Mark Dunlop from Garryduff, Co...
, macAlias and Battlefield Band
Battlefield Band
Battlefield Band is a Scottish traditional music group. Founded in Glasgow in 1969, they have released over 30 albums and undergone many changes of lineup. As of 2010, there are no founder members in the band....
, and contributions to three volumes (Volumes 7, 8 and 9) of Linn Records
Linn Records
Linn Records is a Glasgow-based record label which specialises in classical, jazz and Scottish music. It is part of Linn Products.-History:While Linn engineers were testing their flagship product, the Sondek LP12 turntable, they became frustrated with some of the specialist test LPs they were using...
' The Complete Songs of Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
project, she decided to embark on a solo career. In 2003 she released her first solo album, Faultlines
Faultlines (album)
Faultlines is the debut studio album by Scottish folk musician Karine Polwart, released on January 19, 2004.Faultlines won the Best Album award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, with the track "The Sun's Comin' Over The Hill" winning Best Original Song and Polwart herself receiving the Horizon Award...
. Written and recorded with assistance from the Scottish Arts Council
Scottish Arts Council
The Scottish Arts Council is a Scottish public body that distributes funding from the Scottish Government, and is the leading national organisation for the funding, development and promotion of the arts in Scotland...
, Faultlines won the Best Album award at the 2005 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards celebrate outstanding achievement during the previous year within the field of folk music. The awards have been given annually since 2000 by British radio station BBC Radio 2....
. This award, along with 2 others at the same ceremony, increased Polwart's profile not just in the folk community but also in the wider musical arena.
The songs on Faultlines cover a variety of topics, and although she has claimed at live performances that they are all quite depressing, many have an uplifting aspect. This is particularly notable in "The Sun's Comin' Over The Hill" (which won Best Original Song at the BBC Folk Awards 2005) which tells the story of woman who reacts to the death of her partner through a period of depression, drink and drugs, but has a more optimistic chorus, with the narrator foreseeing an end to this period. There are exceptions to this: "Waterlily" — the tale of a man whose lover is killed during the war in Yugoslavia, based on the book Cold Night Lullaby by Colin Mackay
Colin Mackay
Colin Mackay was a poet and novelist. His final work was an autobiography entitled Jacob's Ladder which included talking about his planned suicide.-Books:* The Sound of the Sea ISBN 0-86241-154-8...
— offers no such comfort. "Only One Way", on the other hand, is an upbeat song with a strong political theme and some biting humour.
In April 2006 Polwart released her second solo album Scribbled in Chalk. This album was heralded with much critical acclaim receiving impressive reviews from amongst others, The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
, The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
, The Independent on Sunday, Time Out and BBC Music online
BBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
. A UK wide tour followed as well as appearances on BBC 2's Culture Show, Simon Mayo's Album show on Radio 2, Mike Harding's folk show on Radio 2, BBC Radio Scotland on the Janice Forsyth show and the Janice Long Late show on Radio 2. Polwart's music also reached a wider audience when her songs were used during the opening sequence of a Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
episode in July 2006 and for the final programme of The Hairy Bikers' Cookbook
The Hairy Bikers' Cookbook
The Hairy Bikers' Cookbook is a BBC television cookery and travel programme, that has so far run for four series and a Christmas special...
.
Like Faultlines, Scribbled in Chalk
Scribbled in Chalk
Scribbled in Chalk is the second studio album by Scottish folk musician Karine Polwart, released on March 7, 2006.The album was shortlisted for Best Album at the Scots Trad Music Awards, and the track "Daisy" won Best Original Song at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.-Track listing:All songs by Karine...
often looks at the darker side of life with tales of sex trafficking ("Maybe there's a Road"), the holocaust ("Baleerie Baloo", which is about the missionary Jane Haining
Jane Haining
Jane Haining was a Church of Scotland missionary. She worked in Budapest, where she was arrested by the Nazis in 1944. She died in the concentration camp at Auschwitz later that year.-Early life:...
) and the uncertainties of life ("Hole in the Heart"). But these stories of despair are balanced by others that describe the joy of a slower life ("Take Its Own Time"), of hope triumphing over cynicism ("Where the Smoke Blows") and the wonder of the universe ("Terminal Star").
According to her official website, she believes that songs should stand up by themselves. However, for the sake of those interested in the backstory behind the songs, the website provides information about each of them on the basis that even if a song does work by itself, sometimes the story behind it can make it more meaningful. She has also made guitar tablature available for several of her songs through her website, including notes on tuning and style.
As well as her solo work, Polwart spent much of 2006 collaborating with other artists on a variety of projects; Roddy Woomble
Roddy Woomble
Roderick "Roddy" Woomble is the lead singer of Scottish rock band, Idlewild and a solo contemporary folk musician. To date, Woomble has released six full-length studio albums with Idlewild, and two solo albums, My Secret is My Silence and The Impossible Song & Other Songs...
, the lead singer of Idlewild
Idlewild (band)
Idlewild are a Scottish rock band, formed in Edinburgh, in 1995, comprising Roddy Woomble , Rod Jones , Colin Newton , Allan Stewart and Gareth Russell...
, asked her to help co-write and provide backing vocals for his solo album, My Secret is My Silence
My Secret is My Silence
My Secret is My Silence is the debut studio album by Idlewild lead vocalist Roddy Woomble, released 24 July 2006, on Pure Records.The album, produced by John McCusker, features tracks co-written by McCusker, Rod Jones, Michael Angus and Karine Polwart as well as the vocals of folk singer, Kate...
, whilst Polwart provided several original songs for the BBC Radio 2 music/social documentary series The Radio Ballads. Two of these songs, "Can't Weld A Body" and "Firethief", would later appear on her albums Fairest Floo'er
Fairest Floo'er
Fairest Floo'er is the third studio album by Scottish folk musician Karine Polwart, released on December 10, 2007. Fairest Floo'er is one of two albums that Polwart recorded in 2007 during a break from live performances; Polwart was pregnant with her first child whilst recording.Unlike her other...
and This Earthly Spell
This Earthly Spell
This Earthly Spell is the fourth studio album by Scottish folk musician Karine Polwart, released on March 10, 2008. The album was released just three months after Fairest Floo'er, and contains original compositions....
respectively. Polwart also supported The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South were an English alternative rock group formed at the end of the 1980s by two former members of Hull group The Housemartins, Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway. The duo were initially joined by Sean Welch , Dave Stead and Dave Rotheray , all of whom stayed with the group throughout...
on their tour and she guested with David Knopfler
David Knopfler
David Knopfler is a British singer-songwriter, rhythm guitarist, pianist and cofounder of the critically acclaimed rock band Dire Straits....
at The Globe Theatre for a charity benefit for Reprieve.
At the 2006 Hogmanay Live
Hogmanay Live
Hogmanay Live is BBC Scotland's annual live event programme broadcast from either Edinburgh Castle's Great Hall or BBC Pacific Quay on Hogmanay . Regardless of location, the programme rings in the New Year with the firing of Edinburgh Castle's One O'Clock Gun and the subsequent fireworks and...
celebrations on BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
, Polwart played several of her songs and also dueted with Paolo Nutini
Paolo Nutini
Paolo Giovanni Nutini is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician from Paisley. His father is of Italian descent, from Barga, Tuscany, although both his parents are Scottish, his family having been in Scotland for three generations....
. Toward the end of the year, she became one of the founder members of a genre-crossing musical collective called The Burns Unit
The Burns Unit
This article is about the music group. For the medical facility, see Burn center.The Burns Unit is an eight-piece Scottish-Canadian music group. The band formed in 2006, after the musicians met at Burnsong, a Scottish songwriting retreat...
, which has since performed at festivals. The other members are Sushil K Dade, Emma Pollock
Emma Pollock
Emma Pollock is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and guitarist.-Early life:Pollock studied Physics at the University of Strathclyde and later Archaeology at the University of Liverpool...
, Chris Difford
Chris Difford
Chris Difford is a singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer....
, Kenny Anderson
King Creosote
Kenny Anderson, known primarily by his stage name King Creosote, is an independent singer-songwriter from Fife, Scotland. To date, Anderson has released over forty albums, with his latest, Thrawn, released in 2011. Anderson is also a member of Scottish-Canadian band, The Burns Unit...
, singer Kim Edgar, pianist Michael Johnston and rap artist MC Soom T. The collective issued its debut album, Side Show, in August 2010.
2007 saw Polwart playing once again at Celtic Connections
Celtic Connections
The Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of traditional Scottish music and also features international...
both with her band and collaborating with other artists including Dick Gaughan
Dick Gaughan
Richard Peter Gaughan usually known as Dick Gaughan is a Scottish musician, singer, and songwriter, particularly of folk and social protest songs.-Early years:...
and Roddy Woomble
Roddy Woomble
Roderick "Roddy" Woomble is the lead singer of Scottish rock band, Idlewild and a solo contemporary folk musician. To date, Woomble has released six full-length studio albums with Idlewild, and two solo albums, My Secret is My Silence and The Impossible Song & Other Songs...
. She took time off from live performance during 2007 as she was pregnant with her first child. During this time she recorded two albums: Fairest Floo'er
Fairest Floo'er
Fairest Floo'er is the third studio album by Scottish folk musician Karine Polwart, released on December 10, 2007. Fairest Floo'er is one of two albums that Polwart recorded in 2007 during a break from live performances; Polwart was pregnant with her first child whilst recording.Unlike her other...
comprising mostly traditional songs, and This Earthly Spell
This Earthly Spell
This Earthly Spell is the fourth studio album by Scottish folk musician Karine Polwart, released on March 10, 2008. The album was released just three months after Fairest Floo'er, and contains original compositions....
, containing only original compositions.
Polwart also sings with Corrina Hewat and Annie Grace in, what they describe as, a 'girly trio'.
In March 2009 Polwart took part in the Darwin Song Project
Darwin Song Project
Darwin Song Project is a compilation album, released on September 7, 2009. It features folk artists from the UK and North America, who were tasked with the creation of new songs that had a "resonance and relevance to Charles Darwin". The artists gathered together for 7 days in a farmhouse in...
, a multi-artist songwriting retreat organised by the Shrewsbury Folk Festival
Shrewsbury Folk Festival
Shrewsbury Folk Festival is an annual festival of folk and world music and traditional dance held in the town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England....
to create songs that had a 'resonance and relevance' to Darwin. A CD was released in August 2009.
Polwart's website announced in February 2010 that she intends to take a year's "maternity leave" (Polwart's daughter, Rosa, was born on 1 April 2010) but will perform with the Burns Unit in the summer. She also recorded an EP with Lau
Lau (band)
Lau is a contemporary folk three-piece from Scotland, named after an Orcadian word meaning "natural light." The band is composed of Kris Drever , Martin Green and Aidan O’Rourke . To date, the band has released two studio albums and a live album.Their debut album, Lightweights and Gentlemen, was...
which was released through her website in July 2010.
Polwart releases music through her own Hegri Music imprint, named from the Gaelic word for heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
. Polwart describes the heron as her favourite animal and her song "Follow the Heron", which she has recorded both solo (on the Scribbled in Chalk
Scribbled in Chalk
Scribbled in Chalk is the second studio album by Scottish folk musician Karine Polwart, released on March 7, 2006.The album was shortlisted for Best Album at the Scots Trad Music Awards, and the track "Daisy" won Best Original Song at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.-Track listing:All songs by Karine...
album) and with Malinky (on thr 3 Ravens album), has been much covered by artists including The McCalmans
The McCalmans
The McCalmans were a folk song trio from Scotland. Formed in 1964, they recorded and toured without interruption up until they disbanded in December 2010....
, Robert Lawrence and Cathie Ryan
Cathie Ryan
Cathie Ryan is a singer and bodhrán player from Detroit, Michigan. Her parents came from Ireland and she is generally seen as an Irish or Celtic musician....
. The CD booklet for Polwart's Scribbled in Chalk includes a heron hidden in one of Sarah Roberts' illustrations.
Band members
- Karine Polwart - vocals, guitar
- Mattie Foulds - drums, percussion
- Kevin McGuire - double bass, backing vocals
- Steven Polwart - acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals
- Inge ThomsonInge ThomsonInge Thomson is a singer and multi instrumentalist from Fair Isle in Shetland.She is a founder member of Harem Scarem and plays accordion and percussion in Karine Polwart's band...
- accordion, backing vocals, percussion
Occasional guest members include: Martin Green, Corrina Hewat and Aidan O'Rourke.
Awards
- 2003 Scots Trad Music AwardsScots Trad Music AwardsThe Scots Trad Music Awards celebrate Scotland's traditional music in all its forms and create a high profile opportunity to bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media and public attention.-2010:...
: voted Best Scots Singer. - 2003 BBC Radio 2 Folk AwardsBBC Radio 2 Folk AwardsThe BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards celebrate outstanding achievement during the previous year within the field of folk music. The awards have been given annually since 2000 by British radio station BBC Radio 2....
: nominated for Best Original Song ("Thaney"). - 2004 Scots Trad Music AwardsScots Trad Music AwardsThe Scots Trad Music Awards celebrate Scotland's traditional music in all its forms and create a high profile opportunity to bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media and public attention.-2010:...
: nominated for Songwriter of the Year. - 2005 BBC Radio 2 Folk AwardsBBC Radio 2 Folk AwardsThe BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards celebrate outstanding achievement during the previous year within the field of folk music. The awards have been given annually since 2000 by British radio station BBC Radio 2....
: awarded Best Album for Faultlines, Best Original Song ("The Sun's Comin' Over the Hill") and The Horizon Award for Best Newcomer. Polwart was also nominated for Best Singer. - 2006 Scots Trad Music AwardsScots Trad Music AwardsThe Scots Trad Music Awards celebrate Scotland's traditional music in all its forms and create a high profile opportunity to bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media and public attention.-2010:...
: nominated for Album of the Year (Scribbled in Chalk) and for Composer of the Year. - 2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk AwardsBBC Radio 2 Folk AwardsThe BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards celebrate outstanding achievement during the previous year within the field of folk music. The awards have been given annually since 2000 by British radio station BBC Radio 2....
: awarded for Best Original Song ("Daisy").
Albums
- FaultlinesFaultlines (album)Faultlines is the debut studio album by Scottish folk musician Karine Polwart, released on January 19, 2004.Faultlines won the Best Album award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, with the track "The Sun's Comin' Over The Hill" winning Best Original Song and Polwart herself receiving the Horizon Award...
(2003) - Scribbled in ChalkScribbled in ChalkScribbled in Chalk is the second studio album by Scottish folk musician Karine Polwart, released on March 7, 2006.The album was shortlisted for Best Album at the Scots Trad Music Awards, and the track "Daisy" won Best Original Song at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.-Track listing:All songs by Karine...
(2006) - Fairest Floo'erFairest Floo'erFairest Floo'er is the third studio album by Scottish folk musician Karine Polwart, released on December 10, 2007. Fairest Floo'er is one of two albums that Polwart recorded in 2007 during a break from live performances; Polwart was pregnant with her first child whilst recording.Unlike her other...
(2007) - This Earthly SpellThis Earthly SpellThis Earthly Spell is the fourth studio album by Scottish folk musician Karine Polwart, released on March 10, 2008. The album was released just three months after Fairest Floo'er, and contains original compositions....
(2008)
Singles
- "The Pulling Through EP" - lead track "Holy Moses" (2005)
- "Daisy" (2006)
- "I'm Gonna Do It All" (2006)
- "The-Build-Your-Own-Cathedral-EP" - lead track "Medusa" (2009)
- "Evergreen EP" (LauLau (band)Lau is a contemporary folk three-piece from Scotland, named after an Orcadian word meaning "natural light." The band is composed of Kris Drever , Martin Green and Aidan O’Rourke . To date, the band has released two studio albums and a live album.Their debut album, Lightweights and Gentlemen, was...
vs Karine Polwart, 2010)
Sheet music
- As of 2010, a selection of sheet music is sold through the KarinePolwart.com Store.
Collaborations and guest appearances
- Various Artists - The Complete Songs of Robert Burns, Volume 7 (1999)
- macAlias - highwired (2000)
- Various Artists - The Complete Songs of Robert Burns, Volume 8 (2000)
- Various Artists - The Complete Songs of Robert Burns, Volume 9 (2001)
- Various Artists - Scots Women (2002)
- Corrina Hewat - My Favourite Place (2003)
- Various Artists - Fishing Music (2003)
- Dean Owens - My Town (2004)
- Various Artists - Cold Blow these Winter Winds (Fairytale of New YorkFairytale of New York"Fairytale of New York" is a song by the Irish rock group The Pogues, released in 1987 and featuring the British singer Kirsty MacColl. The song is an Irish folk style ballad, written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan, and featured on The Pogues' album If I Should Fall from Grace with God...
) (2004) - Various Artists - Scottish Women (2004)
- Corrina Hewat - The Ballad of Eppie Moray (2005)
- Various Artists - The Wildlife Album 2 (2005)
- Future Pilot AKA - Eyes of Love / Lights of the City / Changes (2006)
- Roddy WoombleRoddy WoombleRoderick "Roddy" Woomble is the lead singer of Scottish rock band, Idlewild and a solo contemporary folk musician. To date, Woomble has released six full-length studio albums with Idlewild, and two solo albums, My Secret is My Silence and The Impossible Song & Other Songs...
- My Secret is My SilenceMy Secret is My SilenceMy Secret is My Silence is the debut studio album by Idlewild lead vocalist Roddy Woomble, released 24 July 2006, on Pure Records.The album, produced by John McCusker, features tracks co-written by McCusker, Rod Jones, Michael Angus and Karine Polwart as well as the vocals of folk singer, Kate...
(2006) - Various Artists - Ballads of the BookBallads of the BookBallads of the Book is a studio album, released on 5 March 2007, on Chemikal Underground. The project was curated by Roddy Woomble, and features collaborations between Scottish musicians and Scottish writers. The album is considered a "joint effort" by all those involved...
(2007) - LauLau (band)Lau is a contemporary folk three-piece from Scotland, named after an Orcadian word meaning "natural light." The band is composed of Kris Drever , Martin Green and Aidan O’Rourke . To date, the band has released two studio albums and a live album.Their debut album, Lightweights and Gentlemen, was...
- Arc LightArc Light (album)Arc Light is the second studio album by contemporary folk three-piece Lau, released on March 30, 2009 on Navigator Records.The album's bonus track is a cover of The Beatles' song, "Dear Prudence"...
(2009) - Darwin Song ProjectDarwin Song ProjectDarwin Song Project is a compilation album, released on September 7, 2009. It features folk artists from the UK and North America, who were tasked with the creation of new songs that had a "resonance and relevance to Charles Darwin". The artists gathered together for 7 days in a farmhouse in...
(2009) - Kris DreverKris DreverKris Drever is a Scottish contemporary folk musician and songwriter, who came to prominence in 2006 with the release of his debut solo album, Black Water...
- Mark the Hard EarthMark the Hard EarthMark the Hard Earth is the second solo album by contemporary folk musician Kris Drever, released January 2010 at Celtic Connections. The album was officially released on March 8, 2010.-Track listing:#"Mark the Hard Earth" - 4:45#"This Old Song" - 3:54...
(2010) - Robert Lawrence - The Journey Home (2010)
External links
- Karine Polwart Official Website
- Karine Polwart Facebook page
- Karine Polwart on Twitter
- Karine Polwart's YouTube channel
- Karine Polwart MySpace site
- MVine Profile retrieved 9 January 2007
- Footstompin' Profile retrieved 9 January 2007
- Folk Radio UK Interview by Colin Irwin, March 2008
- Scottish Arts Council Profile retrieved 9 January 2007
- Battlefield Band Official Website
- Malinky Official Website
- Folk Radio UK Seven Days in the Darwin Song House