For the last seven years Jon Doran has performed as part of a duo with Janice Burns. Award winning singers of perfectly matched harmonies, they are gorgeously gentle and heavy on the “sad, heartbreak vibes”. It comes as something of a surprise, then, that his new EP is filled to the brim with energy, excitement and a lust for life.
The Northern Assembly are, largely, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne’s contemporary folk powerhouse Quercus and they add an irresistible 70s folk feeling as well as plenty of groove. Jordan Aikin’s whistles and pipes, and Heather Ferrier’s accordion are especially glorious.
The ballad of Robin Hood and The Pedlar [Roud 333, Child 132] is an old one, printed in Vaughan Williams’ and A.L Lloyd’s Penguin Book of English Folk Song. Doran has suggested that their version is “probably closest to Mervyn Plunkett’s recording of George Tompsett in 1960” and it certainly has unmistakable hints of the 60s/70s folk revival. Doran’s voice is strong, a bold storytelling presence, but it’s the high whine of the Aikin’s highland pipes that creates the atmosphere. Ferrier’s accordion and Adam Stapleford’s drums propel the tune, a horse-hoof clatter until a whistle, and then the pipes, create a Lincoln-green canopy under which Doran spins his tale.
Bold Wolfe [Roud 624] has a similar propulsive-ness, although this time there’s a real military march about it as parade-ground drums usher in a plea for soldier’s bravery. Doran tells the story of the Battle of Quebec, a moment in Canadian history when 4,000 British troops defeated a French army in 1759, and Aikin’s pipes gurgle, hurdy-gurdy-like, falling in step with Ferrier once again. Finally, Stapleford’s rim-shot clatter sees the band climb upwards, reaching for that victorious moment. A whistle hovers above the battlefield, swooping across the fallen and Doran sweeps a tear from his eye.
The pace drops, a little, during the two minutes of The Evening Sun – Introduction. A river of sound drifts gently downstream, electric guitar and snatches of the natural world form a confluence with the boat whistles of accordion and pipes, a shoegaze echo glistening across the silvery surface. As all of the instruments merge, there’s an intensity that breaks as The Evening Sun begins. Originally a W.C Handy blues with lyrics by Memphis Minnie, The Northern Assembly make it tranquil; a sun-setter of a tune. They did, apparently, record it whilst watching the sun sink behind snow-capped fells and that chilly warmth is evident. Acoustic guitar, accordion and a low whistle gaze out at the majesty of nature, Doran hoping that someone will “tell (him) how to ease a troubled mind”.
There’s not a hint of trouble here though, instead the pace is serene, made even more beautiful for the subtle backing vocals of Janice Burns; she is the echo, barely heard, ringing from across those high, barren hills. Aikin finishes with a languid march, heartbreaking and slow. It is a lovely song, a counterpoint to the high intensity of the rest of the EP.
The folk-rock vibes return on Kitty of Ballinamore, a song from Northern Ireland learnt from Geordie Hanna’s version (from Topic’s Voice of the People series). There’s, possibly, a hint of Jethro Tull hidden right at the start but Doran’s storytelling is, once again, absolutely exemplary. If Ferrier’s accordion carries with it shadow-y menace then the pipes and whistle undercut it entirely. They become jaunty, celebratory, until they lead the whole thing in a joyful dance. Stapleford’s drums are just as mischievous as Aikin’s pipes. Folk is rarely “groovy” but it’s impossible not to want to dance to this, a song that will be brilliant live.
Folk is rarely “groovy” but it’s impossible not to want to dance to this, a song that will be brilliant live.
As much as Broadsides are, so often, concerned with murder and retribution, Doran has unearthed one that is sport related. Heenan and Sayers [Roud 2148] relates a boxing match of 1860, a famous amateur fight that resulted in the founding of modern boxing as a sport. Ferrier and Aikin take the place of the fighters, trading blows more quickly than you can see, each jab and parry alarmingly dextrous, the instruments circling one another, fists like thunderbolts, musical trills flashing at faces. Doran revels in the spit and sawdust atmosphere, there’s Tabloid excitement as the fighters square up. The thump of Stapleford’s drum and Bevan Morris’ bass land heavy blows, sending teeth into the audience. There’s real tension, real excitement until the two fighters fall into a weary-legged waltz, Doran raising the fist of the winner and the romance of pugilism preserved.
It feels as though we’ve waited a little while for an exciting, new folk act to emerge. This week, with Frankie Archer’s Pressure and Persuasion and now The Northern Assembly’s EP, folk music has found two thrilling things in the space of a few days.
Jon Doran and the Northern Assembley is out now on digital and CD, available from Bandcamp.
Like this article? Please consider donating to help keep Tradfolk running.
