When not Bellowheading or Remnant Kinging, John Spiers and Jon Boden formed what was widely regarded as one of the best folk duos of their generation. They really were very good. And then it seemed as if in the aftermath of the Bellowhead split and the launch of Jon Boden’s solo albums there wasn’t going to be too much room or time for Spiers & Boden. Well – it seems that that seeming was wrong seeming, and that Spiers & Boden are back.
The duo had actually started to plan an album together prior to the pandemic, so although their new album ‘Fallow Ground‘ was recorded in interludes between lockdowns it’s not a pandemic album as such. it is, however, a surprisingly happy album which, as Jon Boden has explained, may slightly reflect the recent worldwide troubles: “I guess we were looking for songs during lockdown with a sense of fun and light relief. I realise that there are zero songs about death on this album, which is probably a first and may get us expelled from the English Folk Dance & Song Society. Yes, traditional songs with a joyous edge.”
The album is released on 17th Spetember on Hudson Records and there will be an accompanying tour. There’s a taster of what’s to come in the video after the tour dates.
Spiers & Boden – Fallow Ground Comeback Tour – Sept/Oct 2021
September
Tues 28th St. David’s Hall, Cardiff
Wed 29th Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan
Thu 30th Redgrave Theatre, Bristol
October
Fri 1st The Regal, Tenbury Wells
Sat 2nd Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
Sun 3rd Exeter Phoenix
Mon 4th Cheese & Grain, Frome
Tue 5th Komedia, Brighton
Wed 6th Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
Fri 8th Revelation, Ashford
Sat 9th FULL DAY The Spiers & Boden Festival at Cecil Sharp House, London
Sun 10th Chipping Norton Theatre
Mon 11th Nettlebed Village Club, Nr Henley on Thames
Tue 12th The Corn Hall, Diss
Sat 16th Hartlepool Folk Festival
Mon 18th Colchester Arts Centre
Tue 19th Cambridge Junction
Wed 20th Pocklington Arts Centre
Thu 21st Manchester Folk Festival
Fri 22nd The Live Room, Saltaire
Sun 24th The Music Room, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall *matinee and evening shows
Mon 25th Rheolwr Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda, Bangor
Tues 26th Aberystwyth Arts Centre
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcZLvR5KvvE&t=8s
