“I suppose the music I make is folk-influenced – because that’s what I grew up with. However, I like to think that my music crosses barriers and genres - that’s the whole point of what I do"

Seth Lakeman hates labels. And those who label the music he makes ‘folk music’ may find themselves having to redefine the widely perceived meaning of the term. Maybe he’s the new face of folk for the 21st century; more likely he’s just a great new singer songwriter.

Music has always been part of Seth’s life: his parents were part of a touring band which included Seth and his older brothers Sean and Sam, who all played from an early age and subsequently performed as The Lakeman Brothers. Seth grew up rubbing shoulders with British folk legends like Martin Carthy and recent Mojo Award winner Bert Jansch. But at the same time he was playing air guitar in his bedroom to AC/DC’s ‘Back In Black’. Twenty years later you can hear both influences.

While there are elements of the traditional in his music (in the sense that he uses acoustic instruments) he also delivers a rhythmic, contemporary sound and vivid lyrical imagery, fusing the energetic performance ethic of punk or rock with the heartfelt emotion of blues and soul.

What Seth Lakeman loves best of all is performing live. On stage he’s intense and compelling, attacking his four-string tenor guitar with the ferocity of Joe Strummer, and singing with the passion of Jeff Buckley. Never was such a furious sound kicked up by an ‘unplugged’ quartet of fiddle, acoustic guitar, bodhran and cojon (the percussive box used in flamenco) and double bass.

Lakeman's first album, Kitty Jay, was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. His second album, Freedom Fields, is out now.

Releases

• King and Country - single, out 05/02/2007 on Relentless. (post review)
• The White Hare - single, out 16/10/2006 on Relentless. 1 review (read/post)
• Freedom Fields - album, out 21/08/2006 on Relentless. (post review)
• Lady Of The Sea - single, out 07/08/2006 on Relentless. 1 review (read/post)

Past events

• Wed 10 Oct at Cambridge Junction. (post review)
• Wed 28 Feb at Newcastle upon Tyne Academy 2. (post review)
• Tue 27 Feb at Edinburgh Liquid Rooms. (post review)
• Sun 25 Feb at Aberdeen Moshulu. (post review)
• Fri 23 Feb at Stoke-on-Trent Sugarmill. (post review)
• Thu 22 Feb at Manchester Academy 2 (formerly MDH). (post review)
• Wed 21 Feb at Aylesbury Civic Centre. (post review)
• Tue 20 Feb at London Shepherds Bush Empire. (post review)
• Mon 19 Feb at Salisbury Arts Centre. (post review)
• Sat 23 Dec at Birmingham NIA. (post review)
• Fri 22 Dec at Brighton Centre. (post review)
• Thu 21 Dec at Bournemouth International Arena. (post review)
• Wed 20 Dec at Cardiff International Arena. (post review)
• Fri 15 Dec at Falmouth Princess Pavilion. (post review)
• Thu 14 Dec at Exeter University. (post review)
• Wed 13 Dec at Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms. (post review)
• Tue 12 Dec at Liverpool Carling Academy. (post review)
• Mon 11 Dec at Sheffield Leadmill. (post review)
• Sun 10 Dec at Manchester Academy 3 (formerly Hop & Grape). (post review)
• Tue 17 Oct at London King's Cross Scala. (post review)
• Sun 15 Oct at Nottingham Trent University. (post review)
• Sat 14 Oct at Oxford Zodiac / Academy 2. (post review)
• Thu 12 Oct at Cardiff The Point. (post review)
• Wed 11 Oct at Bristol Fiddlers Club. (post review)
• Tue 10 Oct at Cambridge Junction. (post review)
• Sun 08 Oct at Leeds Cockpit. (post review)
• Sat 07 Oct at Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall. (post review)
• Fri 06 Oct at Northampton The Deco. (post review)
• Thu 05 Oct at Frome Cheese and Grain. (post review)
• Wed 04 Oct at Brighton Concorde 2. (post review)
• Tue 03 Oct at Norwich Waterfront. (post review)
• Truck Nine - Day 2 (Sunday), Sun 23 Jul at Steventon Hill Farm. (post review)
• Sat 08 Apr at Reading Fez Club. (post review)
• Sun 26 Mar at Oxford Zodiac / Academy 2. (post review)

News

• 07/07/2008: Chart round-up: rascals and raconteurs on the rise
• 12/05/2006: Win! Wychwood! Wicked! w00t!

Links

• sethlakeman.co.uk - official site

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