Halsway Carol

Halsway Carol - is a secular, seasonal carol celebrating the winter solstice. A modern folk song with music by Nigel Eaton and words by Iain Frisk.

This track was recorded by three school friends who had their teenage years during the 1960s UK folk revival. During the late 60s and early 70s, they shared music together, played songs together and even performed in public on occasions. During a recent re-union of ex-pupils from their old school, they decided to record some music as a band once again. They chose a folk song for that recording, to remember the music that brought them together in their youth.

What is slightly unusual about this track is that it was recorded in the autumn of 2020 during the second lockdown period of the covid-19 pandemic. The personal restrictions placed on most of the country, prevented people from getting together as freely as they would like. This meant that the recording you hear was created as separate tracks in band members’ homes and then mixed together later.

Ann who lives in Saltash in Cornwall, recorded her vocal track in a recording studio in Plymouth. Ray, who lives in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, recorded his melodeon and whistle tracks at his home. Alan, the guitarist and mandolin player on the song, recorded his tracks at home in Lincoln, where he also collated all the other recordings from Ray and Ann to mix down into the music you can now hear.