KINNFOLK

Julie and Josh Kinn, who founded the band Kinnfolk in late 2018, live in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia (East Coast). He on bouzouki, guitar, cittern and vocals, she on vocals and bodhrán.

A self-titled debut album in 2020 and here is their second album The Knotted Circle, just released in the autumn, a collection of twelve traditional songs and instrumentals that they have gleaned from both Ireland and Scotland, as well as two original tracks composed by Josh, The Hat Song and The Borden Set.  Since the 19th century, many Irish and Scottish people have emigrated to the United States and their music has inspired or influenced other American music, such as bluegrass and old-time Appalachian music. It is to underline this proximity that Josh has included the title The Transtlantic Set.

Another reference to Irish emigration is Kilkelly, written by brothers Steven and Peter Jones about their family's exile to the USA from the remote county of Mayo. Several Irish and Scottish standards feature in Kinnfolk's repertoire such as As I Roved Out and The Barnyards of Delgaty, as well as Steve Earle's song The Galway Girl, so often associated with Sharon Shannon who plays it on accordion.

More original is A Mhic Iain 'Ic Sheumais which Josh performs in Scottish Gaelic. And then Now Westlin Winds by Scottish poet Robert Burns or Loch Lomond sung a capella by Julie and Josh. A traditional song from 1841, a reference to the Jacobite revolt of 1745 and popularised many years ago by the group Runrig. A charming duo, on stage as well as in the city, who distil a music that is simple and natural.

 Autoproduit - www.kinnfolkmusic.com