Festival Q&A:
Martin & Eliza Carthy

The father-daughter folk singers and musicians join forces for a performance at Beverley Folk Festival (16-18 June). Eliza tells us why singing with her family holds a special place in her festival me

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Who else are you excited to see?
Beverley has so many fantastic acts on this year. I’ll be looking forward to old friends trying new tricks, especially Jim Moray‘s False Lights and Jon Boden‘s solo project.

What’s your best festival memory?
My best festival memory has to be hanging out at the old Playhouse, watching a band like the McPeake family of Belfast in 1988, or singing with my family for the first time. I’ve been going there since I was little and so it’s very much associated with golden childhood memories of the beginning of the summer season.


What are your festival essentials?

Festival essentials? Beer tokens! And wellies, just in case.

How does playing a festival differ from playing your own gig?
Festivals are great because you get to see your pals. The winter touring months are so dark – you and your band in the van in the cold – it’s lovely to get in the sunshine and watch someone else working a stage for a change.

What’s your favourite part of playing a festival?

My favourite part of a festival is hanging out in a field in the afternoon, the sun in your face. I love the spirit of a crowd in adversity too – whipping up a soggy crowd into joyful jumping up and down is a real pleasure. But also the Sunday feeling of a hazy afternoon is nice. Warm hazy bliss.

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Martin & Eliza Carthy

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