23 f 12 shots from the fRoots
Rocket Launcher a dozen leading questions to fire at Laurel Swift
If you were given the funds to organise a concert bill, who would the artists be?
In this moment, it would be Leveret then Faustus finishing up with Tsuumi Sound System. Then maybe an aftershow special with Britanny Haas, Bruce Molsky and Andy Irvine, followed by Hendrix.
Which totally obscure record do you most treasure and would like more people to know about?
Um… I’m not a big listener to CDs, but I
do love The Pathway To The Well by John Carthy, Matt Molloy and Arty McGlynn. Mind you, it’s nothing on the live gig, which was just stunning. I saw them at Camden Irish Centre, even if they kept having to ask people to be quiet – except when Matt Mol- loy played solo, of course!
What was the best live gig you ever saw?
I’ve seen so many! I love watching musi- cians who love playing together, it’s often so subtle. But I guess one favourite, Edward II’s return gig at – was it an Oyster birthday – in Kentish Town. It was like being a festival kid all over again
And what was the worst? Let’s not go into that… Everyone has an
off night sometime… What was your own best ever gig?
We’ve had some real stormers with Gadarene recently… I love working with all my bandmates so much, so it’s hard to pick. I hope the best is yet to come – maybe Gadarene’s album launch tour next month!
And what was your worst?
Maybe we’re not going into that either. Although my finest moment may not have been dancing on a very big stage with an incredibly well-known band and realising they had just started from a different point in the song to where we’d rehearsed; and I had no way to communicate this to the other pair of dancers across the stage…
What’s the professional achievement you’re most proud of?
Morris Offspring. The dancers in that team were a complete privilege to work with. I owe them so much for just being so up for it and giving everything, every single time. Legends.
What’s the most embarrassing thing you ever did in public?
I embarrass myself every time I go out… I dare say the best is also yet to come!
Which song or piece of music would you most like to have written yourself?
Waiting For Rain by Rob Harbron. Such
a pretty, simple, meaty little tune. Great! Oh, and Jolene of course.
Who was the first musician or singer you were inspired to emulate?
John Jones and Andy Irvine. We had all the Oysterband and Patrick Street stuff when I was a kid and I loved the lot – still sing lots of it in the car when no-one is lis- tening.
Who was the last-but-one musician or singer you lusted after?
Ha! See the answer to the question about embarrassment… I try to grow wise to these tricks…
If you had a rocket launcher, who or what would be the target, and why?
It’s a rocket launcher that inspires hope, compassion and kindness, right? It will strike at the heart of anyone trying to start a fight, exploit others or degrade the envi- ronment. It’s gonna work a bit like that bit in Indiana Jones… Tzaaaarch!
Laurel Swift supplies the national energy grid for the English folk scene. When she’s not teaching music, morris dancing and generally inspiring others she plays in vari- ous bands including Gadarene who are touring this month to mark the release of their new album Volume Two: Live In 2016.
www.laurelswift.co.uk
root salad
Photo: Ian Anderson
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