Hannah Rarity announces debut album

Hannah Rarity
Photograph by Elly Lucas

Hannah Rarity – BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2018 – releases her much anticipated debut album Neath The Gloaming Star on 2nd September. This new release will be launched with a number of high-profile appearances (BBC Proms In The Park) and UK tour dates in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen amongst others.

Following her acclaimed 2016 EP, Beginnings, (“Beautifully engaging vocals, thoughtful interpretations of traditional songs and some highly promising song-writing…Hers is definitely a name to watch.” fRoots Magazine), Neath The Gloaming Star features eleven songs, carefully selected by Rarity, which showcase her powerful vocals and fresh interpretations of songs from the folk genre she whole-heartedly embraces. Her vocal performance is supported by a stellar line-up of Scottish musicians, including Innes White (Karen Matheson, John McCusker), John Lowrie (Blue Rose Code, Adam Holmes & The Embers) and Euan Burton (Kris Drever, Siobhan Miller).

Rarity’s musical career to date has earned her a nomination for Scots Singer of the Year 2017 at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, seen her feature as ‘One to Watch in 2018’ in The Scotsman and front Irish-American band Cherish the Ladies. This first full-length work is a culmination of her musical journey and experience thus far, establishing Rarity as a voice in her own right, whilst paying homage to both source – Jeannie Robertson – and revival singers, including Rod Paterson, Fiona Hunter and Anne Neilson, from whom songs have been passed.

Produced by acclaimed musician and producer Euan Burton, the album has a bright and modern sound whilst remaining true to the folk tradition it is inspired by. “Neath the Gloaming Star” features a carefully balanced mix of beloved traditional songs, self-penned tracks and soulful covers of some of Scotland’s best-loved songwriters of the folk-revival – two late greats are celebrated in re-workings of Andy M. Stewart’s ‘Where Are You (Tonight I Wonder?)’, and ‘Rose O’ Summerlee’ by Davy Steele, which features folk legend Phil Cunningham. Meanwhile more contemporary songs – ‘Wander Through This Land’ and ‘Wasting Time’ – further develop the emotive themes of loss, love, hardship and longing that run throughout the album.

Artist’s website: www.hannahrarity.com

‘Land O’ The Leal’ – live:


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