folk rock

Skyclad is a British heavy metal band with strong folk influences in their music. They were formed by former Sabbat vocalist Martin Walkyier, and Satan / Blind Fury / Pariah guitarist Steve Ramsey in 1990 to represent the "ultimate pagan metal band". From the start, they have incorporated a diverse range of influences from British folk music to German thrash metal which has fed their constantly evolving sound. They are widely considered the inventors of folk metal.

The group was created by producer Frank Farian in 1975 and was composed of four West Indian artists working in London, Germany and the Netherlands: singers Marcia Barrett and Liz Mitchell, model Maizie Williams and DJ Bobby Farrell. Boney M is noted for the mix of white and black music—the producer Farian is white and the singers are black; significantly many songs are black (freedom) songs, for example “No More Chain Gang” in the album Oceans Of Fantasy.

Read more about Boney M on Last.fm.

The album includes recent single “Halfway Blind” which got repeat plays on BBC 6Music by the likes of Gideon Coe and Nemone when released as a limited edition seven inch in January. The song, along with “Blame”, alludes to a struggle to see clearly – figuratively and literally for Brookln who’s legally blind in one eye. ‘Guide To An Escape’ is about self-discovery, embracing the flip-sides of life on the road (“Foreign Night”) and the tussle of uncertainty and hope as dreams are chased (“We’ll Go On Alright”).

After clocking up over 400 shows in the last three years, Rue Royale will continue to build their grass-roots following as they tour ‘Guide To An Escape’, playing many of their biggest venues yet across Europe in 2011.

It’s all about the journey, not the destination. The adventure is theirs, and yours, for the taking.

David Mead is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter whose infectious melodies, distinctive vocal style and strong songwriting skills have helped build a dedicated fanbase, even after a variety of major-label mishaps. 2008 sees the release of David's fifth full length album ALMOST AND ALWAYS. His most intimate work to date, the album examines life after marriage and the promise of things to come. As always, Mead’s honeyed voice is front and center, gently accented with classical guitar, woodwinds and string quartet.