MP3 Oak - Andraste

Acoustic Pagan and British Folk music. This album weaves through traditional arrangements and original material. Oak is very popular performer at Folk and Pagan events. A solo artist well equipped to play alongside bigger bands.

11 MP3 Songs in this album (43:28) !
Related styles: FOLK: British Folk, FOLK: Traditional Folk

People who are interested in Ralph McTell Martin Carthy should consider this download.


Details:
Oak has played in a many folk clubs in the West of England. In the 1980s and early -90s he played bass guitar in several rock bands. He wrote songs which the bands recorded. He has returned to his folk music roots.

His songs are inspired by nature and his spiritual experiences. The two are intertwined. He often meditates to find inspiration.

As well as his own songs, Oak plays traditional music. This, he feels, connects us with our roots and our culture. He believes that if a song has been sung for hundreds of years itâs likely to be a good one. He also plays contemporary ballads. A good song is a good song and our culture continues to evolve.

He now lives between the Somerset Levels and the Quantock Hills. He is a popular performer at festivals and pagan gatherings and his songs have been played on the radio.

Andraste is his first solo album.

Andraste:
The British Hare Goddess

Inspired by tradition, spirituality and nature

About the songs:

âThe hareâ is a song inspired by legends of the hare and moon, Andraste the British hare goddess, and a tradition of hares being associated with shape-shifting.

âTam Linnâ is an ancient traditional song of love, fairies, shape-shifting and magic. There are many versions of it, usually very long and in Scottish dialect. I rewrote the words and tune while hopefully keeping the marvellous story the same.

âSilver ladyâ is a song inspired by nature. Can you hear her calling?

âThe corn kingâ was inspired by the pagan festival of Lugnassadh. The god, in legend, lays down his life for the goddess and her people. It changed my life.

The other songs are traditional, though I tend to play them in my own way and feel very free to change some of the words as I see fit â just as the bards and singers of old did, which is why some of these songs have several versions. They are songs I like to play. Some of them I learned as a child.

âGreen grow the rushesâ and âThe trees they do grow highâ were favourites of my beloved lurcher Bonny, who died in my arms, smiling, under the full harvest moon in 2007. I think of her fondly when I play them.