TARRAS

TARRAS

Folk Music's 'Rising' Stars

Recently signed to the world's oldest independent label, Topic Records, the Border country, the land that links Scotland to England, based Tarras are an innovative five-piece band with an average age of 2l, whose work has already been remixed by Paul Birchall of M People. Although they have a multitude of different musical influences ranging from 70's folk idols to J.J. Cale, from Tori Amos to The Prodigy, Tarras are guided, first and foremost, by a fierce love and appreciation of authentic English and Celtic music.

Joss Clapp's interpretations of traditional British music are laced with experimental arrangements, but his acoustic bass guitar playing also reflects a passion for the blues. Seven years ago Joss met Rob Armstrong: a master of the Cittern an instrument long associated with an all but lost era of North Eastern folk music. The pair worked together intermittently for some time until they were joined by Ben Murray, son of North East folk luminary, Phil Murray. Ben was essentially a pianist, but in the manner of a man whose earliest memories were of going to a lots of folk gigs, he discovered the accordion and has barely put it down since. Then there is Jon Redfern - no ordinary drummer, Jon not only plays the Djembe and Congas, but he also plays the guitar and flute - and he sings too. The final piece in this jigsaw appears in the form of Emma Hancock. who, at just 17, has already been a finalist in the BBC Young Musician Of The Year, as well as many other prestigious competitions. Despite this. Emma's violin playing hints at her Romany ancestry with its distinctive, fiery, dynamic style

As individuals the members of Tarras display great technical ability. But together, they effortlessly produce beautiful roots music with real authority. And that's well borne out by the band's album, Rising, on which the playing is breathtaking though not at the expense of invention or feeling. Perhaps the best example of Tarras' abilities is their version of Tommy Armstrong's folk warhorse, Oakey Strike Evictions, on which they shine a fresh light to recast the song with contemporary relevance.