Tarras is a young band from the Scots/English Borders. Their love of their region's traditional music is matched by their awareness of other contemporary forms, from blues to '90s dance music.

'Consummately respectful of the history which has spawned their music, they nevertheless put different spins on it at every turn. An absurdly fine debut album.' - Folk Roots

TARRAS WALKING DOWN MAIN STREET TSCD524

Tarras return for their second album with a slightly changed line-up based around the core members Joss Clapp, Ben Murray and John Redfern. The album is produced by Richard Evans and features the band's original compositions alongside their re-workings of traditional material.

" ..... a superb new album" Mojo Magazine
4 Stars Q Magazine

1 Arizona
2 The Russian & The Radio
3 Fires
4 Los Troyas
5 Only One
6 The Seige
7 Ye Mariners / Cajun Malaysian
8 Calico
9 Dark Eyed Sailor
10 Bagels

Joss Clapp vocals, guitar, bass, mandolin, mandola
Ben Murray vocals, accordion, whistles, keyboard, piano
Jon Redfern vocals, guitar, percussion, harmonica
with
Rob Armstrong cittern
Theo Clapp kit, keyboards
Manny Elias percussion
Rory Francis djembe
Luke Murray soprano sax
Louise Peacock violin
James Pinnock djembe
The Sweet Nothings backing vocals

TARRAS RISING TSCD506

Folk Album of the Month Mojo
"A quiet joy - an album rich in ideas and invention." Traditional Music Maker

1 Parsons Green
2 Whisky Town
3 Magnadoodle
4 Oakey Strike Evictions
5 Da Fields o'Foula / My Love Is a Fair Lad
6 Captain Grant
7 Rising
8 Be Real
9 The Happy Salmon
10 Magpie's Revenge
11 So Tired
12 Men Should Wear Their Long Hair Down
13 The Long Road Home

Rob Armstrong cittern, vocals
Joss Clapp vocals, guitar, acoustic & electric basses, mandolin
Emma Hancock violin, whistle, vocals
Ben Murray vocals, accordion
Jon Redfern vocals, percussion, guitar

Tarras
Based in the Border country, the land that links Scotland to England, Tarras are an innovative band whose work has already been re-mixed by Paul Birchall of M People. Although they have a multitude of different musical influences ranging from 70's folk idols to J.J. Cale, from Tori Amos to The Prodigy, Tarras are guided, first and foremost, by a fierce love of authentic English and Celtic music.

Joss Clapp’s interpretations of traditional British music are laced with experimental arrangements, but his acoustic bass guitar playing also reflects a passion for the blues. Seven years ago, Joss met Rob Armstrong: a master of the Cittern - an instrument long associated with an all but lost era of North Eastern folk music. The pair worked together intermittently for some time until they were joined by Ben Murray, son of North East Folk luminary, Phil Murray. Ben was essentially a pianist, but in the manner of a man whose earliest memories were of going to a lots of folk gigs, he discovered the accordion and has barely put it down since. Then there is Jon Redfern - no ordinary drummer. Jon not only plays the djembe and congas, but he also plays the guitar and flute - and he sings too.

As individuals, the members of Tarras display great technical ability. But together, they effortlessly produce beautiful roots music with real authority.