Vin Garbutt
Encyclopedia
Vin Garbutt though second generation Irish
, is an English
folk singer
and songwriter
. A significant part of his repertoire consists of protest song
s covering topics such as "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland
(Troubles of Erin), unemployment
, and abortion
.
Wilton chemical plant
. During this period he often visited Ireland in search of his musical roots. At the age of 21, he threw caution to the winds and became a professional musician. Armed with the rich repertoire of songs he had amassed, he spent the first summer busking his way around the bars of Spain's Mediterranean coast, and on to Morocco
via Gibraltar
. It was then that he found he had a talent for songwriting.
Back in England in 1972 he recorded his first album for Bill Leader, The Valley of Tees. This firmly established him as a singer and songwriter of well-crafted socially conscious, and environmentally aware songs.
During 2001 Garbutt published the first collection of his songs, The Vin Garbutt Songbook. The collection spans his career from "The Valley of Tees" written in 1971 to "The Troubles of Erin'" written in 1999. Shortly afterwards the companion CD was issued, Garbutt's first ever compilation CD and another world tour followed in 2004. A health check highlighted a minor health problem but in early 2005 whilst on a sabbatical trip to Spain Garbutt's condition deteriorated. On his return he was hospitalised and a repair made to one of his heart valves. He has since made a full recovery and is back on the road. In his recuperation period he worked on his album Persona … Grata which was launched at The Sage Gateshead on 6 October 2005.
. In 2001 he won the "Best Live Act” award, and was also nominated for "Folk Singer of the Year" (with the award going to Norma Waterson
). Later that year, he was awarded an Honorary Degree of Master of Arts by the University of Teesside
. In 2007 he was nominated for "Best Live Act" again at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, with the award going to Bellowhead
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
folk singer
Folk Singer
Folk Singer is a 1964 album by Muddy Waters. Waters plays acoustic guitar, backed by Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums, and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. A significant part of his repertoire consists of protest song
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
s covering topics such as "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
(Troubles of Erin), unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
, and abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
.
Early life
He was born in South Bank, Middlesbrough, the son of an English father and an Irish mother. He discovered folk music while he was still at school, and began visiting and performing at the Rifle Club in Cannon Street, Middlesbrough. After leaving school he was encouraged to become an apprentice at the ICIImperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
Wilton chemical plant
Chemical plant
A chemical plant is an industrial process plant that manufactures chemicals, usually on a large scale. The general objective of a chemical plant is to create new material wealth via the chemical or biological transformation and or separation of materials. Chemical plants use special equipment,...
. During this period he often visited Ireland in search of his musical roots. At the age of 21, he threw caution to the winds and became a professional musician. Armed with the rich repertoire of songs he had amassed, he spent the first summer busking his way around the bars of Spain's Mediterranean coast, and on to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
via Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. It was then that he found he had a talent for songwriting.
Back in England in 1972 he recorded his first album for Bill Leader, The Valley of Tees. This firmly established him as a singer and songwriter of well-crafted socially conscious, and environmentally aware songs.
Middle years
During 1999 Garbutt celebrated his 30th year as a professional performer. He spent the early part of the year on a world tour, playing extensively in the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. As soon as he got back to England he set off on his “Take It Easy after 30 Years on the Road” tour. To coincide with the tour he released his Word of Mouth CD, playing in various British venues to packed theatres. His rambling patter between the songs can take longer than the amount of time singing.During 2001 Garbutt published the first collection of his songs, The Vin Garbutt Songbook. The collection spans his career from "The Valley of Tees" written in 1971 to "The Troubles of Erin'" written in 1999. Shortly afterwards the companion CD was issued, Garbutt's first ever compilation CD and another world tour followed in 2004. A health check highlighted a minor health problem but in early 2005 whilst on a sabbatical trip to Spain Garbutt's condition deteriorated. On his return he was hospitalised and a repair made to one of his heart valves. He has since made a full recovery and is back on the road. In his recuperation period he worked on his album Persona … Grata which was launched at The Sage Gateshead on 6 October 2005.
Awards
In 2000, he was asked to present the "Best Folk Club" award, at the BBC Radio 2 Folk AwardsBBC 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....
. In 2001 he won the "Best Live Act” award, and was also nominated for "Folk Singer of the Year" (with the award going to Norma Waterson
Norma Waterson
Norma Christine Waterson is an English musician, best known as one of the original members of The Watersons, a premier English traditional group. Other members of the group included her brother Mike Waterson and sister Lal Waterson, and in later incarnations of the group her husband Martin...
). Later that year, he was awarded an Honorary Degree of Master of Arts by the University of Teesside
University of Teesside
Teesside University is a university in Middlesbrough, England. It has a student body of 29,285 students as of the 2009/10 academic year. It recorded rises in applications of 25.1 per cent and 23.5 per cent for degree courses beginning in 2010, the highest such percentage increases of the five...
. In 2007 he was nominated for "Best Live Act" again at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, with the award going to Bellowhead
Bellowhead
Bellowhead are an English contemporary folk band originally brought together by John Spiers and Jon Boden. The eleven-piece band plays traditional dance tunes, folk songs and shanties, with arrangements drawing inspiration from a wide diversity of musical styles and influences...
.
Discography
|
When the Tide Turns (album) When The Tide Turns is a 1989 folk music album by Vin Garbutt.-Track listing:# Where the Hell are we Going to Live# When the Tide Turns# The Ballad of John Pearson# Lady Anne Montgomery# Nica Nicaragua# Absent Friends... (1989) The By-Pass Syndrome The By-Pass Syndrome is a 1991 folk music album by Vin Garbutt.-Track listing:# The By-Pass Syndrome# The Fairy Hornpipe# Dish of Glass# If I Had a Son# The Potash Song# The Morpeth Rant# Tipperary Girl# Page Three Girl# Nawa's Song... (1991) Bandalised -Track listing:# England My England# The Catholic Boy/Imelda Rolands Reel/The Green Gates# Jessie the Flower of Dunblane# The Humours of Twizziegill/Hitler's Downfall/The Rambling Pitchfork# Be as Children# The Reluctant Hedgehog/The Mooncoin Reel... (1994) |
Plugged! Plugged! is a 1995 folk music album by Vin Garbutt. The album was recorded live at the Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham.-Track listing:# Wings# A Man of the Earth# To Find Their Ulster Peace# Fell off the Back of a Boat# Send the Boats Away... (1995) [live - Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham, UK.] When the Tide Turns Again When The Tide Turns Again is a 1998 folk music album by Vin Garbutt. It is a reissue of the earlier album When The Tide Turns with one additional track .-Track listing:# Where the Hell are we Going to Live# When the Tide Turns... (1998) [reissue of 1989 album with one additional track] Word of Mouth (Vin Garbutt album) Word of Mouth is a 1999 folk music album by Vin Garbutt.-Track listing:# City of Angels# Forty Thieves# Dark Side of the Moon# John You Have Gone# Tunes: Wilfy Mannion's Jig/The Wild Irishman/Jamie's Christening# Sarajevo... (1999) The Vin Garbutt Songbook Vol 1 The Vin Garbutt Songbook Vol 1 is a 2003 folk music album by Vin Garbutt. It is a compilation of 17 songs from his earlier albums, all written by Garbutt between 1970 and 2000.-Track listing:# The Valley of Tees# Not for the First Time... (2003) |