The Poozies
Encyclopedia
The Poozies are an all-women band that produce folk music from the English
and Scottish
traditions. The band perform traditional and self-composed material. Contemporary songs written by Sally Barker
also feature heavily in the current live set. The band recorded a new album, “ Yellow Like Sunshine”, in the Spring of 2009, and launched it at the Acoustic Music Centre at St Brides in Edinburgh on August 18, 2009, as part of the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe
(harp
) and Patsy Seddon
(harp) were performing together as the duo Sileas
and worked with Sally Barker (guitar
and vocals) on her solo album. Together they decided that an all-women folk group was a good idea, and when Barker met Karen Tweed
in Hong Kong
she agreed to join the project. Fiddler Jenny Gardener was the original fifth member of the group but left before the band recorded their first album (on which she appears as a guest on the track 'Foggy Mountain Top').
After the release of Dansoozies (1993) and Chantoozies (1995), Barker left the group in 1996 in order to start a family. Kate Rusby
joined the band as lead vocalist, and this lineup released one EP
, Come Raise Your Head (1997), and a full-length album, Infinite Blue (1998). However, as Rusby's solo career took off, she was replaced on vocals by Eilidh Shaw
, also an accomplished fiddle
r.
In 2000 the band released Raise your head: A Retrospective to celebrate ten years of The Poozies, and in 2003 released Changed Days Same Roots. In 2006 Barker rejoined the group to make it a five-piece again, and they toured with this lineup until December 2007. Tweed left the band in December 2007, and was replaced by Mairearad Green from the band, the Unusual Suspects
.
Music of England
Folk music of England refers to various types of traditionally based music, often contrasted with courtly, classical and later commercial music, for which evidence exists from the later medieval period. It has been preserved and transmitted orally, through print and later through recordings...
and Scottish
Music of Scotland
Scotland is internationally known for its traditional music, which has remained vibrant throughout the 20th century, when many traditional forms worldwide lost popularity to pop music...
traditions. The band perform traditional and self-composed material. Contemporary songs written by Sally Barker
Sally Barker
Sally Barker is an English folk singer and songwriter, known for her solo work and as a founding member of The Poozies.-Biography:...
also feature heavily in the current live set. The band recorded a new album, “ Yellow Like Sunshine”, in the Spring of 2009, and launched it at the Acoustic Music Centre at St Brides in Edinburgh on August 18, 2009, as part of the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe
Biography
The Poozies formed in 1990. Mary MacmasterMary Macmaster
Mary Macmaster is a Scottish harpist, performing with The Poozies and the duo Sileas.-References:...
(harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
) and Patsy Seddon
Patsy Seddon
Patsy Seddon , BA is a Scottish harpist, violinist and traditional singer in Scots and Gaelic languages, who performs with bands such as The Poozies and the duo Sileas and solo. A Kodaly-trained music teacher, sheeaches harp and singing in Edinburgh schools.-External links:*...
(harp) were performing together as the duo Sileas
Sileas
Síleas is a Scottish harp duo. Patsy Seddon plays electric harp and gut-strung harp, and Mary Macmaster plays electric harp and metal-strung harp. Together they make up part of the all-women folk band The Poozies....
and worked with Sally Barker (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocals) on her solo album. Together they decided that an all-women folk group was a good idea, and when Barker met Karen Tweed
Karen Tweed
Karen Tweed is a piano accordionist from London, England.-Biography:Tweed began to play the piano accordion at the age of 11, studying from button and piano accordion virtuoso John Whelan, and went on to win the first of 5 all-Ireland championships in 1977...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
she agreed to join the project. Fiddler Jenny Gardener was the original fifth member of the group but left before the band recorded their first album (on which she appears as a guest on the track 'Foggy Mountain Top').
After the release of Dansoozies (1993) and Chantoozies (1995), Barker left the group in 1996 in order to start a family. Kate Rusby
Kate Rusby
Kate Anna Rusby is an English folk singer and songwriter from Penistone, South Yorkshire. Sometimes known as The Barnsley Nightingale, she has headlined various British national folk festivals, and is regarded as one of the most famous English folk singers of contemporary times...
joined the band as lead vocalist, and this lineup released one EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Come Raise Your Head (1997), and a full-length album, Infinite Blue (1998). However, as Rusby's solo career took off, she was replaced on vocals by Eilidh Shaw
Eilidh Shaw
Eilidh Shaw is a Scottish fiddle player and singer. She has performed with The Poozies, Harem Scarem and recorded a solo album, Heepirumbo, in 1997. Her brother Donald Shaw was a founding member of Capercaillie. She and The Poozies performed at 2008's Fèis an Eilein in the Isle of Skye.-References:...
, also an accomplished fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
r.
In 2000 the band released Raise your head: A Retrospective to celebrate ten years of The Poozies, and in 2003 released Changed Days Same Roots. In 2006 Barker rejoined the group to make it a five-piece again, and they toured with this lineup until December 2007. Tweed left the band in December 2007, and was replaced by Mairearad Green from the band, the Unusual Suspects
Unusual Suspects
"Unusual Suspects" is the third episode of the fifth season of the American science fiction television series The X-Files. It was written by Vince Gilligan and directed by Kim Manners and aired in the United States on November 16, 1997 on the Fox network...
.
Current lineup
- Sally Barker (guitar, vocals)
- Mary Macmaster (electro-harpElectric harpLike electric guitars, electric harps are based on their acoustic originals. There are both solid-body and hollow body electro-acoustic models available...
, metal-strung harp, percussion, vocals) - Patsy Seddon (electro-harp, gut-strung harp, fiddle, percussion, vocals)
- Eilidh Shaw (fiddle, vocals)
- Mairearad Green (piano accordion, pipes, vocals)
Discography
- Dansoozies (1993) - Hypertension
- Chantoozies (1995) - Hypertension
- Come Raise Your Head (EP) (1997)
- Infinite Blue (1998) - Compass
- Raise your head: A Retrospective (2000) - Compass
- Changed Days Same Roots (2003) - Compass
- Yellow Like Sunshine (2009) - Greentrax
External links
- Official website
- [ allmusic link]