Swordedge

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Swordedge
OriginNorth east of England, United Kingdom
Genres
Years activeLate 1970s and early 1980s
LabelsGuerssen Records
Past members
  • Sue Fenwick (lead vocals, psaltery, and bodhrán)
  • David Smith (guitar)
  • John Davies (vocals, guitar, and flute)
  • Alan Watson

Swordedge was a folk rock and folk band from the north east of England which was formed during the late 1970s. The band was active between the late 1970s and early 1980s. They had only released one eponymous debut studio album in 1980 which contains 10 songs. The band's main sound revolved around neo-medieval folk, English folk music, and folk rock.[citation needed]

The band was a trio throughout its entire existence. The only line-up change the group had was when Alan Watson was replaced by Welshman John Davies on vocals, guitar, and flute. For the recording sessions of the band's only album, the musical group was composed of Sue Fenwick, David Smith, and John Davies.[1]

Biography[edit]

Formed in the north east of England during the late 1970s, the band was active between the late 1970s and early 1980s. Swordedge only released one studio album in 1980, with its overall sound revolving around neo-medieval folk music as well as chamber folk. The band was a trio composed of lead vocalist Sue Fenwick (who also provided psaltery and bodhrán), guitarist David Smith, and John Davies (who contributed vocals, guitar, and flute).[citation needed]

After the release of their eponymous debut studio through Guerssen,[2] the band disbanded shortly thereafter. While not a major commercial record, the eponymous studio album by Swordedge subsequently became a much sought after rarity among English folk music collectors, many years after the LP's initial release. The sound engineer was Mike Reay who mixed the album in Newcastle. The only studio album by the band was privately released and on sale in limited edition only at several private shows which took place in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. The record contains both traditional material (such as a rendition of Rosemary Lane) as well as original songs composed by the band members.[citation needed]

Discography[edit]

  • Swordedge (1980) - the band's only, privately released, initially limited edition eponymous studio album

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rouă, Victor (4 September 2023). "Swordedge - A Great Yet Underrated English Folk Rock Band". The Rockpedia. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Swordedge". Guerrsen Records. Retrieved 29 August 2023.