Fay’s trio at Colchester folk club (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Fay’s trio at Colchester folk club

9:30pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Sound Check

THE next performer at the Colchester Folk Club is singer-songwriter Fay Hield, pictured left.

Raised in the singing community of the West Yorkshire Pennines, Fay’s childhood was as much influenced by the landscape surrounding her home of Oakworth, as it was by the lively, warm music scene around the Famous Bacca Pipes Folk Club in Keighley.

Traditional music and song has been a constant part of Fay’s life. Her first professional appearances were as part of a duo with the distinctive and innovative Damien Barber, now front man of the award-winning Demon Barbers.

Her love of community singing led her to co-form the female a cappella group, the Witches of Elswick, with their strong harmonies. Among their many radio appearances was an invitation to appear on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and they recorded two acclaimed CDs.

With her own trio, Fay’s debut solo album Looking Glass, was released in September 2010 to huge acclaim.

Since the release, she has been in huge demand as a solo performer and as a collaborator, making guest appearances on guitar-supremo, Martin Simpson’s new CD, Purpose and Grace, alongside June Tabor, Richard Thompson and Dick Gaughan.

She has also guested on folk scene favourites Spiers and Boden’s new record, the Works. Her new, as yet untitled record, is due to be released in May.

l The Fay Hield Trio is at the Colchester Arts Centre on February 27 at 8pm. Tickets are £9 and £8 for concessions. They are available by calling 01206 500900.