Seth Lakeman is on his way to Cambridge
The multi-instrumentalist recently put out his ninth solo album, The Well Worn Path.
It was recorded in his garden studio in Dartmoor during a short break from touring with former Led Zeppelin vocalist, Robert Plant, as part of the legendary frontman’s new band, the Sensational Space Shifters.
The album was produced by Ben Hillier and features Seth’s new four-piece band, consisting of veteran collaborator Ben Nicholls on bass, drummer Evan Jenkins, Kit Hawes on guitars and his sister-in-law Kathryn Roberts on backing vocals.
Seth, 41, won Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2007 – one of various accolades he’s collected over the years – and throughout his long career has collaborated with numerous artists, including Tori Amos and Clannad. He has also toured with the likes of Jools Holland, Runrig and Billy Bragg.
“It’s gone really well, we’ve had great reviews,” says Seth of the new record. “People are connecting to it and enjoying this kind of move into more of a folk rock psychedelia sound. A lot of people are referring to it as a Liege & Lief-era Fairport Convention-type record.
“I guess I can definitely hear that. It was made the way records were made back in the 1960s and ’70s – it was quite spontaneous. We made it in four days and a man called Ben Hillier produced it.
“It was all very off-the-cuff and it’s going to be exciting to take this record to the stage because it’s certainly something that I think resonates in the sort of clubs that we’re going to be playing.”
On performing on stage with Robert Plant – of which there is more to come in 2019 – Seth says: “It was two-and-a-half months in America and then all around the world, from Istanbul and the Black Sea to the Sydney Opera House.
“It’s been a huge honour to play alongside a man like that, and to learn from him and his wonderful band. It’s been incredible.”
Seth continues: “I’ve always had his records – solo, and I was a big Zeppelin fan in the early days. I loved the way they crossed over into world and folk music from that riff-based heavyweight sound that they had, and his soaring vocals.
“You have to pinch yourself sometimes when you’re alongside and working and playing off each other – it’s been a real privilege.”
The well-travelled musician will be performing at the Junction’s J1 venue this Wednesday (November 21) He said that he hasn’t played the venue for about four or five years.
“It’s really exciting to go back there,” says Seth. “This record definitely suits that sort of venue, I think. We’ve got a great band, we’ll be playing all sorts of material from the back catalogue and there’s a great support act – Martin Harley, a very cool Americana-type musician.”
The term Americana – used to describe music which incorporates popular styles from the USA such as folk, country, blues and rock ‘n’ roll – has become more ubiquitous in recent years and Seth has found his music being classified under it.
“This morning I woke up and saw I’d been nominated for Best Instrumentalist at the UK Americana Awards, and I’ve never really seen myself as Americana,” he says. “I’ve dipped into it – I made a record with Ethan Johns and I’ve been a huge fan of American music, but I dip into all sorts really, from contemporary to quite traditional English, Irish and Scottish music – the ballads and stories, certainly from the West Country. It’s a real mix.”
Seth has another interesting project coming up. “I’m working on The Mayflower Project, a theatre show being put together down here in Plymouth for 2020 marking the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers leaving for the New World,” he says.
“It’s something that I’m going to be writing the music for – that’s really exciting.”
Seth Lakeman will be performing at The Junction’s J1 venue on Wednesday, November 21 at 7pm.
Tickets: £22.50 adv
junction.co.uk
