ArtistInfo

Darren Black

voc, g, vn, GB
Musician

Darren is a musician and writer who has gained a reputation for his thoughtful and poetic lyrics, often born of an awareness to what is happening around him, both socially and ecologically. Welsh born, but now based in Hampshire UK, he is a guitarist, singer and fiddle player who has headlined his own shows at folk clubs, art centres and other venues, played main stages at notable folk festivals, and supported artists including Buffy Saint Marie, Karine Polwart and Martin Simpson. Contemporary, yet rooted in the acoustic folk tradition, his first album ‘Silent Poetry’ was recorded in 2007 at legendary fiddle player Dave Swarbrick’s home studio and gained rave reviews - largely due to its rawness and lyrical depth. His 2008 follow-up ‘Thinkers & Fools’ went a step further, featuring a smorgasbord of guest musicians including Joe Broughton, Kevin Dempsey and Dave Swarbrick. 2014’s ‘Rise above the Mumblings’ was recorded with Kevin Dempsey at the controls and on guest guitar. The latest album ‘Lord Abergavenny’s Hills’ was released in March 2015. Also featuring Lennie Harvey on slide guitar it is his first concept album, based around stories and tales from the South Wales mining industry where he was born and where his grandfather worked for nearly a quarter of a century. Aside from his solo work, he was in Black Peak until 2013, which he formed in 2009 with ex-Bluehorses fiddle player Deborah Peake. Their album ‘In times back when’ was released in 2011, having previously been runners-up for Best Debut in the Spiral Earth Awards. He has also guested on other recordings including Naomi Bedford’s album ‘Tales from the weeping willow’, which also features Paul Heaton, Alasdair Roberts, Justin Currie and Paul Simmonds.

Instruments

• Vocals
• Guitar
• Violin

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