Lisa Knapp
Lisa Knapp (born 1974 in Balham)[1] is an English folk singer, songwriter, fiddle player and multi-instrumentalist. Her singing voice has been described as "crystal clear" and reminiscent of Anne Briggs or Jeannie Robertson.[1] Two of her three albums have received five-starred reviews in the British national press.
Early life
Lisa Knapp was born in 1974 in Balham in South London[1] and raised in Tooting, also in South London.[2]
Albums
Her debut album, Wild and Undaunted, released in 2007, was Mojo 's Folk Album of the Year. It includes a cover version of Lal Waterson's song "Black Horse".[3]
Colin Irwin gave her 2013 album Hidden Seam, which included contributions by Martin Carthy and Kathryn Williams, five stars in a review for The Observer.[4] The lyrics of the album's opening track, "Shipping Song", derive from BBC Radio 4's Shipping Forecast.[5] Another song from the album, "Two Ravens", took the award for Best Original Song at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2014.[6]
Till April is Dead – A Garland Of May, Knapp's 2017 concept album about the month of May, "twists tradition... mixing in interviews about May Day rituals and samples of birdsong, buzzing flies and cuckoo clocks".
Personal life
Knapp is married to musician Gerry Diver, who co-produces her albums.[11]
Discography
Albums
- Wild and Undaunted (2007), Ear to the Ground Music ETTGCD 001
- Hidden Seam (2013), Navigator Records NAVIGATOR 084
- Till April is Dead – A Garland Of May (2017), Ear to the Ground Music ETTGM 003CD
EPs
- Hunt the Hare – A Branch Of May (2012), Ear to the Ground Music
Other musical contributions
Knapp sang "The Blacksmith" and "Bonnie at Morn" on Gerry Diver's album, Diversions (2002)[11] and also performed on two of the tracks on David Rotheray's 2013 album Answer Ballads.[12] She also sang "A Promise That I Keep" for the theme song for Wolfblood series 1–3. She is also a member of the trio Hack-Poets Guild; their album Blackletter Garland was named one of the ten best folk albums of 2023 by Jude Rogers of The Guardian.[13]
References
- ^ a b c Strong, Martin C. The Great Rock Bible. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Wilks, John (11 May 2017). "Lisa Knapp on "Till April is Dead", collaborating with guitar legends and the immortal importance of the shipping forecast". Grizzly Folk. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Eccleston, Danny (14 October 2013). "Premiere: Lisa Knapp's Black Horse Gets Spooky Video". Mojo. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Irwin, Colin (22 September 2013). "Lisa Knapp: Hidden Seam – review". The Observer. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Track of the Week: Lisa Knapp – Shipping Song". Navigator Records. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ Irwin, Colin (20 February 2014). "Folk is growing up but it still has a lot to learn". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Rogers, Jude (18 June 2017). "Lisa Knapp review – folk delivered with lust and menace". The Observer. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Rogers, Jude (27 April 2017). "Lisa Knapp: 'Til April is Dead – a Garland of May review – dazzling folk wit". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Spencer, Neil (30 April 2017). "Lisa Knapp: A Garland of May review – fearless folklore". The Observer. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Blake, Thomas (1 May 2017). "Lisa Knapp : Till April is Dead – A Garland for May". Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ a b Irwin, Colin. "Artist Biography: Lisa Knapp". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Zierke, Reinhard (19 May 2017). "David Rotheray: Answer Ballads". Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Rogers, Jude (27 December 2023). "The 10 best folk albums of 2023". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2024.