The Mike Harding Show - 08/09/2010

Mike Harding presents an hour of the very best in folk, roots and acoustic music, including an interview with Fay Hield. The Yorkshire-based traditional singer's debut album Looking Glass is one of the most anticipated English folk records in recent times. Raised in a musical family on the West Yorkshire moors, Fay Hield has been active in folk music most of her life, whether singing in groups, organising festivals or studying music at university. In her teens she formed a duo with Damien Barber (The Demon Barbers), and she's perhaps best known for her work with now-disbanded female vocal quartet The Witches Of Elswick. Fay is now releasing her debut solo album for the iconic British folk label Topic Records. Featuring the instrumental talents of Bellowhead's Sam Sweeney and Fay's partner Jon Boden, Looking Glass is an uncompromising collection of little-known traditional songs delivered with passion and understanding. Mike Harding talks to Fay Hield about her album, her career thus far and her plans for the future.