Rachael McShane & The Cartographers + Johnny Campbell

About Rachael McShane & The Cartographers

Rachael McShane is a renowned folk singer, cellist, fiddle and viola player from the North East of England. She gained fame as an original member of the award-winning folk big band Bellowhead, touring with them extensively and making a number of television appearances. The band recorded five studio albums and, together, they won a staggering total of 8 BBC Folk Awards. Parting ways in 2016, the band returned in 2022 for a series of ecstatically-received performances that reminded audiences of their unique alchemy, energy and talent.

Away from her Bellowhead fame, Rachael is a much sought-after performer and recording artist. Her debut solo album No Man’s Fool arrived in 2009 via Navigator Records, establishing impressive credentials that eventually led her to signing with the prestigious Topic Records, the oldest independent record label in the world. She also is the leader of The Cartographers, a band that features the exceptional talents of guitarist Ian Stephenson (Kan, Baltic Crossing), and melodeon player Julian Sutton (Kathryn Tickell, Sting). Their music is a powerful blend of traditional folk and contemporary sounds, with Rachael’s stunning voice and instrumental skills leading the line. The Cartographers have garnered a loyal following thanks to their impressive live performances and critically acclaimed debut album, When All Is Still (2018).

In recent years, Rachael has lent her voice to a new adaptation of The Transports alongside The Young’uns, Faustus, Nancy Kerr, Greg Russell and Matthew Crampton. The resulting album was a stunning showcase of Rachael’s range as an artist, and is testament to her ability to breathe new life into old folk songs. With her extensive experience and formidable talent, Rachael McShane is a sought-after performer and workshop leader.

About Johnny Campbell

Johnny Campbell is passionate about the songs and stories of northern England. Taking inspiration from traditional material, as well as penning new songs of his own, he explores what it means to be human today, as well as looking back at our history.

This year saw Campbell releasing True North, an album of traditional northern folk songs recorded on their respective county summits. From Northumberland and Durham, to Lancashire and Merseyside, Campbell has travelled the length and breadth of the north of England to collect these recordings on or close to the summit of each spot. Each recording documents a moment in time, captured for posterity on a fell or desolate moor, with the album as a whole capturing a tapestry of the north. These recordings are not refined to perfection or studio-polished, but living and breathing songs, just as they’ve been passed down through the generations.

Alongside his music-making, Campbell’s knowledge of radical histories, landscape and geography have earned him a freelance writing role with Britain’s most popular walking magazine, Country Walking, as well as praise from author Nick Hayes, a feature on BBC Radio 4 ‘Open Country’ and an episode of the award-winning Folk on Foot podcast.

About the Gig

This hybrid gig is being livestreamed in partnership with Downend Folk & Roots. You can go along to the gig in person at Christ Church Downend, near Bristol, or watch online from wherever you are. Tickets to go along in person are available from the Downend Folk & Roots website, or from Melanie’s Kitchen in Downend. Our gigs allow interaction between artists and audiences, so the artist can hear you applaud and you can even have the chance to ask them any burning questions.

Tickets are £18, with the option to pay a bit less (£12) or a bit more (£30) depending on what is affordable for you. You only need one ticket per household.

For more info and tickets, visit the link below.