The good Doctor Martin Carthy and his twice Mercury-nominated daughter Eliza Carthy, join forces to perform songs from their first duo album, a record of traditional material entitled ‘The Elephant’, released in May 2014 on Topic Records.

Martin is a legendary ballad singer and guitarist who has influenced a generations of artists, including Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, while Eliza has been twice-nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and a multiple-award winner at the BBC Radio Two Folk awards.

‘Eliza Carthy is one of the figureheads of the English folk revival … compelling’ Evening Standard

‘A gloriously natural singer’ Q magazine

‘Seriously impressive’ Telegraph

‘…brave and anything but predictable’ ★★★★ The Guardian 

For more than 50 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music’s greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it. Trailblazing musical partnerships with, amongst others, Steeleye Span, Dave Swarbrick and his award-winning wife (Norma Waterson) and daughter Eliza Carthy have resulted in more than 40 albums, but Martin has only recorded 10 solo albums, of which the much anticipated Waiting for Angels (Topic TSCD527) was the latest. Whether in the folk clubs (which he continues to champion), on the concert stage or making TV appearances (he was the subject of the acclaimed Originals music documentary strand on BBC 2) – there are few roles that Martin Carthy hasn’t played.

Eliza Carthy is undoubtedly one of the most impressive and engaging performers of her generation. Twice nominated for the Mercury Prize and winner of innumerable other accolades over a 20 year career, Eliza has performed and recorded with a diverse array of artists including, Paul Weller, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Patrick Wolf and Bob Neuwirth. More than most, Eliza Carthy has revitalised folk music and captured the most hardened of dissenters with intelligent, charismatic and boundary-crossing performance.

Comedian and writer Stewart Lee describes Eliza as ‘Not the Messiah, but a very naughty girl’.