Not many artists receive a standing ovation before playing a single note - but when Martin Carthy, the 84 year-old hero of English folk music, graced the stage of EartH, Hackney on Saturday, 27th September, his entrance was enough to bring the packed venue to its feet. The occasion, a joint collaboration overseen by Eliza Carthy and Jon Wilks, marked the musician’s six-decade career with an uplifting tribute concert of epic scope.
A cavalcade of musical royalty, including Billy Bragg, Graham Coxon and Maddy Prior, plus a cast of performers from across the traditional sphere, joined forces to honour the singer and guitarist’s achievements. Whilst an in-depth knowledge of the English folk scene isn’t crucial to understanding the impact of Carthy’s legacy, a recognition of his accommodating spirit and generosity certainly is. Divided into three chronological parts, what lay in store was a sophisticated assortment of songs, stories and tunes, with each number highlighting a different milestone in Carthy’s life - from his early days as as an up-and-coming folk troubadour on the sixties London scene to his key role in pioneering acts such as Steeleye Span and Brass Monkey.
