Bonfire Radicals announce new album and tour

Bonfire Radicals
Photograph by Harry Collison

The Space Between is the long awaited second album from Birmingham’s fiery (un)traditional folk band Bonfire Radicals. This new release captures the adventurous breadth of their musical imaginations, revels in enthusiasm for folk traditions from around the globe and delivers it with the effortless dynamism that permeates their live shows. From brooding vocals to raucous woodwind and fiery fiddle, driven by a punchy backline, The Space Between takes you on a journey through time and place with its dedication to intertwining traditional music with contemporary imaginings. It urges you to dance with abandon, ears wide, hairs raised.

The album features a collection of original, traditional, and borrowed tunes all arranged by the band and given a new life and direction. It positions well known tunes such as ‘Brenda Stubbert’s Reel’ by Jerry Holland and klezmer favourites Sha, Sha, Di Shviger Kumt (Shh, the mother-in-law is coming)’ and ‘Freilacher Nashele’, alongside quirky originals – including a guest appearance of an old Bulgarian-inspired favourite (‘Coffee Countdown’) reworked for pipe organ. Despite the joie de vivre evident here, Bonfire Radicals are not afraid to hit hard and tackle tough issues with an emotional adaptation of the true stories of two Birmingham women in the murder ballad ‘Mary Ashford’.

The electrifying sound of six piece folk band Bonfire Radicals is both intensely creative and irresistibly fun. Expect the unexpected, with global grooves, instrumental fireworks, rich vocal harmonies and delicate a cappella emerging from a melting pot of original and traditional tunes from the British Isles to the Balkans. Emotive vocals, textural washes, intricate woodwind and fierce fiddle are woven together over a pulsating backdrop of guitar, bass and drums. Bonfire Radicals’ music dares their audiences not to dance.

The band have built up a strong fan base following their intense high-energy live performances across the UK including Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Beardy Folk Festival, Moseley Folk & Arts Festival, Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, selling out Birmingham’s legendary Hare & Hounds and Kitchen Garden Cafe, and airplay on BBC Radio 3.

Artists’ website: www.bonfireradicals.com

‘Freilacher Nashele’ – official video:

The Space Between Album Launch Tour

18th Oct: Hare & Hounds – Birmingham (Album Launch)
9th Nov: The Musician, Leicester
11th Nov: The Betsy Trotswood, London
12th Nov: Folk at the Meadows, Belper
14th Nov: The Prince Albert, Stroud
25th Nov: West Kirby Arts Centre, West Kirby

More to be announced…


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