Last year saw the emergence of a group of South London folkies, interconnected and explicitly good, and they created, defined and redefined the conceptions of ‘folk’ music for a new audience. Pioneers like Noah And The Whale, Laura Marling and Johnny Flynn are all still going strong, and we still really like them (in case you haven’t noticed), but their genre redefinition is complete for the moment, and I’ve found myself wondering where folk might go next.
But if 2008 and the beginning of 2009 was a period of these indie folksters, let me be the first one to say that the rest of the year and the beginning of 2010 will likely feature a new range of London folkiness. Rawer and edgier than anything we’ve seen before, this new movement of folk is being spearheaded by the astoundingly charming and musically scrumptious Stars Of Sunday League. And their friends. Quite a few of them actually. And they’re all good. Really good.
Those honoured enough to be at London’s The Luminaire on Monday evening experienced something truly great. It was the kind of night that explicitly lets you know that you’re on the brink of something amazing. As I brushed elbows with the most ridiculously talented and yet most ridiculously down to earth collection of musicians the British capital has ever seen, I was mesmerised. Such a fantastic and eclectic bunch of overly talented artists gathered at what is undeniably London’s best live music venue and spent the evening showing us exactly what is guaranteed to be the beginning of what the next year of London folk has to offer.
I’ve been quite vehemently obsessed with Stars Of Sunday League since first hearing them here at The Blue Walrus cyber-HQ last year, and even putting that aside, Monday night presented one of the best line-ups I’ve ever seen; and each act lived up to the expectation of their names completely.
From Planet Earth‘s cheerful folk renditions to the hyperactive indie folk sounds of Broadcast 2000, there wasn’t one act that disappointed. I’ve accidentally seen Planet Earth three times now – and believe when I say that next time, it won’t be an accident; make very pretty sounds and are just plain lovely to watch. Euan from Younghusband played some fabulous acoustic ditties, which I found hit the spot even more than his regular band antics, and I Said Yes provided a stellar performance which had me easily sold on the first few songs. Olly The Octopus and a soloist from the band Semaphore completed the set, and had the room engaged for the entirety of their contributions. Olly’s decision to play his wonderfully hippie song acoustically was a real crowd pleaser. Maybe I’m just a folk whore, or maybe Euan Robinson just got a really stellar line up for the evening. Look out for more from all of these artists, because The Blue Walrus will be keeping up with all of their antics.
Stars Of Sunday League showed themselves capable of weaving the most intricate and detailed pictures imaginable with their beautiful words and soulful, natural delivery. They’re a band unafraid to laugh at themselves, willing to actually interact with the people they’re in a room with, and who make being brilliant musicians look like a total breeze. If you haven’t heard them yet, Stars Of Sunday League are a band that will change your life – songs like ‘I Still Like Football’ and ‘Folk Song’ are what being a music fan are all about. Everything Stars Of Sunday League does is easy to connect with and strikingly individual. I am wholeheartedly in love with this band, and I’ll be very upset if you don’t head over to their MySpace page and buy a copy of their debut EP ‘The Boy’s Got Prospects’ when it’s released nationwide on September 7th. Stars Of Sunday League are spine-tingling goodness…don’t you agree?