Biography
Fernhill has revitalized the longstanding musical heritage of the Celtic Isles through its energetic arrangements. Drawing from a body of pre-Christian dance tunes alongside romantic ballads, the Wales-based quartet merges technically masterful playing, emotionally resonant singing, and a scholar’s deep regard for inherited forms into a sound that proves both contagious and uplifting. Toplas magazine observed that Fernhill produces some of the Welsh music scene’s most adventurous international voyages, while The Western Mail described the group as a prime mover in the crop of talented bands injecting new life and an exciting contemporary dramatic into traditional Welsh music.
The ensemble comprises four accomplished performers. Diatonic button accordion player Andy Cutting previously belonged to the Celt-rock outfit Blowzabella and maintains parallel projects, recording and touring in duos alongside fiddler, guitarist, and vocalist Chris Wood as well as British vocalist Karen Tweed. Bagpipe, horn pipe, and oboe player Jonathan Shorland is widely admired as an instrument maker; in 1993 he joined cittern and reed instrument player Ceri Rhys Matthews to document an album of Welsh pipe music performed on instruments of Shorland’s own design and construction. Beyond his work with Fernhill, Matthews has appeared both as a solo artist and with the band Dynion Hysbys. Tasked by the Welsh Arts Council with creating fresh material derived from the traditional melody “Brig y Nos” for a contemporary dance troupe, he also supplied the signature theme for the news broadcast of Welsh National Television.
Singer Julie Murphy ranks among Great Britain’s foremost interpreters of traditional song. In 1994 she established the duo Whirling Pope Joan together with hurdy-gurdy player Nigel Eaton and contributed to a Sinfonye recording devoted to works by the twelfth-century composer Hildegard of Bingen. The Living Tradition noted that Murphy’s vocals are superb; she is relaxed and powerful and moves easily from hard-edged lyrics to soft, sensitive ballads.
The ensemble comprises four accomplished performers. Diatonic button accordion player Andy Cutting previously belonged to the Celt-rock outfit Blowzabella and maintains parallel projects, recording and touring in duos alongside fiddler, guitarist, and vocalist Chris Wood as well as British vocalist Karen Tweed. Bagpipe, horn pipe, and oboe player Jonathan Shorland is widely admired as an instrument maker; in 1993 he joined cittern and reed instrument player Ceri Rhys Matthews to document an album of Welsh pipe music performed on instruments of Shorland’s own design and construction. Beyond his work with Fernhill, Matthews has appeared both as a solo artist and with the band Dynion Hysbys. Tasked by the Welsh Arts Council with creating fresh material derived from the traditional melody “Brig y Nos” for a contemporary dance troupe, he also supplied the signature theme for the news broadcast of Welsh National Television.
Singer Julie Murphy ranks among Great Britain’s foremost interpreters of traditional song. In 1994 she established the duo Whirling Pope Joan together with hurdy-gurdy player Nigel Eaton and contributed to a Sinfonye recording devoted to works by the twelfth-century composer Hildegard of Bingen. The Living Tradition noted that Murphy’s vocals are superb; she is relaxed and powerful and moves easily from hard-edged lyrics to soft, sensitive ballads.
Albums
