Waterson:Carthy was created from the dynamic fusion of two generations, Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy and their daughter Eliza Carthy: living proof of the tenacity - and vivacity - of the oral tradition.

"There is a special magic when the clan (Waterson:Carthy) pools its resources. The effect is sensational" The Times

WATERSON:CARTHY HOLY HEATHENS AND THE OLD GREEN MAN TSCD562
This is the album that Waterson:Carthy have been wanting to make for a long time. In 1965, their forerunners The Watersons released the landmark album "Frost and Fire – A calendar of Ritual Magical Songs", and the concept continues to fascinate them. With "Holy Heathens" they have eclipsed even that seminal album, amd the sound is a resoundingly full blooded one. The resonant ensemble singing is bolstered by The Devil’s Interval, a young and exciting new vocal trio of Lauren McCormick, Emily Portman & Jim Causely. They are further accompanied by guitar, fiddle, mandolin, brass and percussion. This fuller sound harks back to The Watersons and Blue Murder, but surpasses them for sheer excitement and thrills.

In "Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man", Waterson:Carthy have produced their best album to date – no question about it.

1 New Year Carol - Residue
2 Sugar Wassail
3 St George
4 May Song
5 Christ Made A Trance
6 The Falling Tear
7 Cherry Tree Carol
8 Reaphook and Sickle
9 Jack Frost
10 While Shepherds Watched
11 On Christmas Day It Happened So
12 Time To Remember The Poor
13 Jacobstowe Wassail
14 Awake Awake
15 Diadem
16 Jolly Old Hawk
17 Gloryland

Norma Waterson vocals, triangle
Eliza Carthy vocals, fiddle, mandolin
Martin Carthy vocals, guitar
Tim van Eyken vocals, melodeons
with The Devil's Interval
Jim Causley vocals
Emily Portman vocals
Lauren McCormick vocals
and
Martin Brinsford percussion
Alice Kinloch trombone, tuba
Tom Allan trumpets
Oliver Knight cello
Recorded and produced by Oliver Knight

WATERSON:CARTHY FISHES & FINE YELLOW SAND TSCD542
Waterson:Carthy's fifth album includes a characteristically eclectic selection of material from a formidable range of sources. Much of the album was recorded "live in the studio" with a view to retaining the essence of the group's live interactive performance and this goal was successfully achieved.

With one exception, the songs are about people who, whether or not they were born under a Bad Sign, certainly come - one way or another - under the Bad heading. It is almost a given that this makes for a programme of interesting and intriguing material. The set includes an outstanding reworking of the Jerry Garcia classic Black Muddy River, previously sung by Norma on her award winning solo album for the Hannibal label.

• "the synergy is quite electrifying" Observer Music Monthly Magazine

1 Goodbye Fare You Well
2 The Oxford Girl
3 The Galopede / Walter Bulwer's No.2 / Walter Bulwer's No. 1
4 Newry Town
5 Farewell Lovely Nancy
6 Black Muddy River
7 The Quadrille / The Tempest / The Portland Fancy
8 Napoleon's Death
9 Green Broom
10 George Till's No. 2 / George Till's No. 1
11 Captain Kidd
12 Twenty One Years On Dartmoor
Norma Waterson vocals, triangle
Martin Carthy vocals, guitar, 5 string banjo
Eliza Carthy vocals, fiddle
Tim van Eyken vocals, melodeons
Ben Ivitsky viola (Farewell Lovely Nancy)


WATERSON:CARTHY A DARK LIGHT TSCD536
England's leading folk group return with their latest outstanding collection. The core trio of Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson & Eliza Carthy are joined by new member Tim van Eyken on vocals and melodeons. Also contributing to the album are Martin Simpson on guitar, Ben Ivitsky on fiddle and Barnaby Stradling on acoustic bass guitar.
A Dark Light reflects the influence on the group of some of the great singers from the tradition, and therefore features a selection including songs from The Copper Family, Packie Byrne, Seamus Ennis and Sam Larner.

"This great album...bringing a creative continuity to some of the great source material of the folk revival" BBC Radio 2 folk reviews

1 The Devil And The Farmer
2 May Morning
3 Death And The Lady
4 The Outlandish Knight
5 Balancy Straw + Seventeen Come Sunday + Whitefriars Hornpipe
6 The Lofty Tall Ship
7 The Holland Handkerchief
8 The Old Churchyard
9 Crystal Spring
10 Diego's Bold Shore
11 Shepherds Arise
Norma Waterson vocals
Martin Carthy vocals, guitar
Eliza Carthy vocals, fiddle, viola
Tim van Eyken vocals, melodeon
Martin Simpson guitar
Ben Ivitsky fiddle
Barnaby Stradling acoustic bass guitar

WATERSON:CARTHY BROKEN GROUND TSCD509
The great family tradition returns to record this time as a four piece, with Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy and Liza Carthy joined by Saul Rose on melodeons and voice. The extended line-up results in a jewel of an album. Stand out tracks are Raggle Taggle Gipsies featuring Liza, The Bay of Biscay featuring Norma, the staggering instrumentals and Martin's Bald Headed End of the Broom with New Orleans marching band added for good measure.
1 Raggle Taggle Gipsies
2 The Bay of Biscay
3 Sheffield Waltz / Waltz Clog / The Wounded Hussar
4 The Lion's Den
5 Fare Thee Well Cold Winter
6 Rowling Hornpipe / Our Cat has Kitted / Bleaton Gardens /
The Sportsman's Hornpipe
7 The Foresaken Mermaid
8 We Poor Labouring Men
9 The Ditchling Carol
10 Dorrington Lads / Adam a'Bell
11 The Royal Forester / The Bald Headed End of the Broom
Norma Waterson vocals, triangle
Martin Carthy vocals, guitar
Eliza Carthy vocals, fiddle, viola
Saul Rose vocals, melodeon
Ben Ivitsky low whistle
The Phoenix New Orleans Parade Band

WATERSON:CARTHY COMMON TONGUE TSCD488
'This is deliberately an album of English music,' writes Martin Carthy in his notes. 'It is neither possible nor desirable to set up musical border checkpoints anywhere. However, there is that elusive and ever changing thing called identity.' Assisted by members of Eliza Carthy's band and the voices of other members of the family, Waterson:Carthy sing and play such timeless English anthems as Claudy Banks and Hares in the Old Plantation, ending with a stirring performance of the hymn Stars in My Crown, dedicated to the English playwright Dennis Potter.
1 Rambleaway / Valentine Waltz
2 Claudy Banks
3 Rackabello
4 Lowlands of Holland
5 Grand March in the Battle of Prague / Liverpool Hornpipe /
Wellington Hornpipe
6 Meeting is a Pleasure
7 Hares in the Old Plantation
8 Flash Company
9 Maid Lamenting
10 American Stranger
11 French Stroller
12 Polly's Love
13 Stars in My Crown
Norma Waterson vocals
Martin Carthy vocals, guitar, mandolin
Eliza Carthy vocals, fiddle
Saul Rose melodeon
Maclaine Colston hammered dulcimer
Barnaby Stradling bass
Lal Waterson, Maria Gilhooley, Mike Waterson, Eleanor Waterson vocals

WATERSON:CARTHY WATERSON:CARTHY TSCD475
With an eclecticism characteristic of its members, Waterson:Carthy's first album draws upon not only the archives of British folksong but a Morris tune and a Texas waltz. What is transmitted to the listener, however, is not so much the skill of their research as the virtuosity with which they breathe life into its matter.
1 Bold Doherty
2 The Light Dragoon
3 Ye Mariners All
4 Rags & Tatters / An Moinfeuir
5 With Kitty I'll Go
6 The Grey Cock
7 When First I Came to Caledonia
8 Orange in Bloom (The Sherborne Waltz)
9 The Slave's Lament / Farewell to a Dark Haired Friend
10 John Hamilton
11 Sleep On Beloved
12 Midnight On the Water
Norma Waterson vocals
Martin Carthy vocals, guitar, mandolin
Eliza Carthy vocals, fiddle

Waterson:Carthy
'dripping with passion and vitality' (Mojo)

Central to the current resurgence of interest in the much neglected indigenous music of England are the Waterson:Carthy family. For well over twenty years they have been based in the town of Robin Hood's Bay, East Yorkshire, where the dramatic coastal landscape has helped to inform the unique character of the music.

Martin Carthy is widely regarded as one of the finest singers and interpreters of traditional music from the British Isles, as well as a highly influential guitarist. Martin has worked with a host of significant folk artists including Steeleye Span, Dave Swarbrick, The Albion Band, The Watersons and Brass Monkey, as well as maintaining a busy solo career. He still prefers to follow his insatiable musical curiosity rather than cash in on his unrivalled position as one of folk music's great innovators. He has been awarded the MBE for services to English music.

Norma Waterson formed The Watersons in the early 60's with her sister Lal, brother Mike and cousin John. They went on to become the most influential vocal harmony group of the times, and achieved near cult status when they stopped touring in the late 60's. In 1996 Norma received universal acclaim with a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize, in which she came a very close second to pop band Pulp. Norma has one of the strongest and truest voices that contemporary folk music has ever produced.

Eliza Carthy is the remarkable daughter of Martin and Norma, who sings in the rich Waterson women's style. However, there is no doubt that she quickly established herself as an artist very much in her own right. Whilst her commitment to the British tradition is unquestionable, she has also injected original compositions and traditional tunes alike with contemporary electronic and dub effects. Her debut solo album, Heat, Light & Sound (TSCD482) was praised by the critics, but the response to her ambitious follow-up release, Red Rice (TSCD2001) was unprecendented, and resulted in a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize. Eliza has paved the way for other talented young roots music artists to gain recognition and respect with her winning combination of talent, vitality and charisma.