Watermill Sessions Live

A fantastic evening of live music brought to you by Great Ayton's very own Elaine Palmer.

The fourth event of its kind, previously sold out Watermill Sessions Live, brings together some of the finest acoustic based performers, M G Boulter, Jess Morgan and Elaine Palmer.

Hosted and curated by country/folk singer Elaine Palmer who grew up in a beautiful old Watermill on the North Yorkshire Moors, restored lovingly by her father into fully working order. Esk Mill is the setting for a series of music films featuring various other singer songwriters showcasing their work. At the end of each season of filming the artists get together to perform at these special events, bringing the more earthier elements of music together in such historical and culturally significant buildings. Each performer has a unique, distinctive voice and each venue a rich history with wonderous tales to tell.

Biographies

M G Boulter is a singer and songwriter living on the coast of the Thames Estuary, England. Releasing his debut album in Spring 2012 under the name The Whispering Pines, Boulter has been an integral member of leading UK Americana band The Lucky Strikes since 2007, starting out on bass before switching to guitar and vocals, penning much of their material.

M G Boulter is a much sought after session musician who has toured with The Duke and the King, Simone Felice, Emily Portman, Bright Eyes and Blue Rose Code, as well as recording with The Owl Service, Rosalie Deighton and Neil McSweeney among many others. He released his first solo record in 2013 titled 'The Water or the Wave' and his latest 'With Wolves the Lamb Will Lie' in 2016. Since accompanying Simone Felice (The Felice Brothers) on various dates, including a prestigious Green Man Festival headline set in 2011, Boulter has become a full member of The Simone Felice Band, touring the US and UK, also opening shows as solo performer. As a much sought after pedal steel and guitar player he has worked with Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Mumford & Sons, and is a touring member of Emily Portman’s Coracle Band and Blue Rose Code.

For 'With Wolves the Lamb Will Lie' M G Boulter relocated from the shores of the Thames coast to the peak district of Sheffield and worked closely with award winning producer Andy Bell (Bellowhead, Seasick Steve and Teenage Fanclub, as well as BBC Folk Album of the Year 2014 winner) to produce an album of lyrical depth and quiet brilliance. Like former projects, M G Boulter has surrounded himself with an array of musicians from different genres to help create his music; here one finds Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman Band), Toby Kearney (These New Puritans), Sheffield Songwriter Neil McSweeney and folk artist Lucy Farrell, among others. Autumn 2018 will see the release of his collaborative EP with Birmingham string quartet, The Froe. 

“Gorgeous, in a word”
★ ★ ★ ★
Uncut

“Highly recommended”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Independent on Sunday

“Lovely.. ”
★ ★ ★ ★
Mojo

“Brings freshness to songwriting”
★ ★ ★ ★
Telegraph

http://www.mgboulter.co.uk/

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Jess Morgan is a songwriters' songwriter. A cerebral storyteller – she takes her cue from roots music and contemporary and upfront British voices like Billy Bragg and Jarvis Cocker. Her latest album is a tumbler of unfancied gutsy song, with heart, passion and great melodies. The album comes outwith Drabant Music and Jess is currently the Norwegian label’s only British artist.

In April 2017 Jess and her label released the album on Oxblood coloured vinyl. BBC Wales linchpin Adam Walt on said on first play – “it’s a blinder.” As well as crafting songs, Jess has also made a name for herself for her hands-on approach to producing music – gaining momentum through limited edition releases, short runs and most recently her own DIY 7″ vinyl records. In a recent article The 405 called her “a true DIY artist in her element. Seriously, she does it all.” New album ‘Edison Gloriette’ was follows on from 2015 Jess release ‘The Bournemouth EP’ which sold out its limited edition run in less than 24 hours. The past 5 years have seen Jess cement her place in the burgeoning singer-songwriter scene throughout the UK and Europe. Her music has attracted the ears of BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, BBC Scotland, BBC Wales and BBC Northern Ireland; Uncut, The Telegraph and The Guardian. This summer Jess will perform at a raft of UK festivals and will tour in Europe and Canada.

"Something truly special"
Folk Radio UK

"Absolutely addictive"
The National Student

"Unique vocals, keen observational skills, and top-notch songwriting"
★ ★ ★ ★
Maverick

"Some of the most sublime tunes you are likely to hear in a long time"
★ ★ ★ ★
R2 Magazine

http://www.jessmorgan.co.uk/

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Elaine Palmer hails from an isolated village up on the North Yorkshire Moors and now lives in Great Ayton. Growing up in the wilds of Yorkshire Elaine surrounded herself by music, writing songs, playing the piano, guitar and singing. Once Elaine started to play live, she finely honed her own voice and built a reputation for her emotive mesmerizing stage presence. Elaine soon started touring, sharing a stage with the likes of David Gray and Ryan Adams. After seeing her play live Inspiral Carpet’s Clint Boon invited Elaine to record at his home studio, the culmination of this would turn out to be her debut album, Into the Spotlight. Elaine continued to tour extensively playing with a host of successful artists including Paolo Nutini and KT Tunstall.

Elaine's success continued receiving airplay on Radio 2 by Bob Harris and fantastic reviews from MOJO, UNCUT, Maverick, R2.

Elaine’s music picked up the pace a little when she started performing with a band in the UK and then the States. Her material developed as she became influenced by the great female singer-songwriters she performed with along the way…. Joanna Newsom, Patty Griffin, Jesca Hoop, Dark Dark Dark. She then released a live studio album, Fire and Flames to great critical acclaim.

Elaine’s work has textures of New Country yet very authentic and edgy. Her album Show me the Way was more complete with layers of vocals, electrics and pedal steel. The lyrics more mature, and the songs well crafted, receiving radio airplay in UK and USA.

Elaine’s latest record, Still Life released on Mill House Records Nov 2017 is a collection of haunting songs reflecting on lost souls, telling stories of ghosts and legends. Elaine plays electric guitar mostly with some piano, beautiful textures of pedal steel and cello, layering her vocals with emotive delivery.

Still Life was play listed by British Airways on all their flights Worldwide and received masses of airplay from USA stations reaching the Top 10 in the Indie Charts. 

"The tight accompanying combo and light-touch production let the well-crafted songs do the work, resulting in an impressively textured album"
★ ★ ★ ★
R2 Magazine

"Elaine has this uncanny talent that I’ve never experienced with any artist I’ve ever met or worked with. Nothing more is required than what she delivers when you turn on the tape machine. True Genius!"
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Clint Boon

"With a beautifully conversational voice, an unerring sense of melody and a bittersweet and wistful repertoire, Elaine Palmer is undoubtedly a talent"
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
MOJO

www.elaine-palmer.com