Jim Causley is an English folk singer,

songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music ...

, and

musician A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who w ...

from

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...

who specializes in the

traditional A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays ...

songs and music of the

West Country The West Country (occasionally Westcountry) is a loosely defined area of South West England, usually taken to include all, some, or parts of the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, and, less commonly, Wiltshire, Glouce ...

. Journalist Colin Irwin has called him "the finest singer of his generation".

Biography

Causley hails from the village of

Whimple Whimple is a village and civil parish in East Devon in the English county of Devon, approximately due east of the city of Exeter, and from the nearest small town, Ottery St Mary. It has a population of 1,642, recounted to 1,173 for the villa ...

East Devon East Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council has been based in Honiton since February 2019, and the largest town is Exmouth (with a population of 34,432 at the time of the 2011 census). The district was formed ...

, Causley was born in

Exeter Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal c ...

and is a relative of the Cornish poet

Charles Causley Charles Stanley Causley CBE FRSL (24 August 1917 – 4 November 2003) was a British poet, school teacher and writer. His work is often noted for its simplicity and directness as well as its associations with folklore, legends and magic, espec ...

. Described by Mojo Magazine as "the finest singer of his generation", Causley grew up in an area rich in traditional music; his home village in the heart of Cider Country with its thriving wassailing tradition and its close proximity to

Sidmouth Sidmouth () is a town on the English Channel in Devon, South West England, southeast of Exeter. With a population of 12,569 in 2011, it is a tourist resort and a gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. A large part of the town ...

and

Dartmoor Dartmoor is an upland area in southern Devon, England. The moorland and surrounding land has been protected by National Park status since 1951. Dartmoor National Park covers . The granite which forms the uplands dates from the Carboniferous ...

folk festival A folk festival celebrates traditional folk crafts and folk music. This list includes folk festivals worldwide, except those with only a partial focus on folk music or arts. Folk festivals may also feature folk dance or ethnic foods. Handicra ...

s. After studying Performing Arts and Jazz & Popular Music at Exeter College, Causley went on to study Folk and Traditional Music at the

University of Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a UK public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is a red brick unive ...

. It was during this time that he began gaining a reputation as talented singer on the wider UK folk scene. Causley released his debut album, ''Fruits of the Earth'', on WildGoose Records in 2005. Noted for his rich, fruity bass voice and cheeky stage presence, Causley guested with Martyn Wyndham-Read on his ''Song Links 2'' ( Fellside Records) album which linked English traditional songs with their American variants. In 2006 Causley was nominated for a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award under the Horizon Award (best newcomer) category and in 2007 his vocal trio, The Devil's Interval, were nominated for the same award again. With The Devil's Interval, Causley has toured with Waterson–Carthy as part of their annual Frost and Fire tour for six consecutive years and in 2006 collaborated with them on their album '' Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man'' (

Topic Records Topic Records is a British folk music label, which played a major role in the second British folk revival. It began as an offshoot of the Workers' Music Association in 1939, making it the oldest independent record label in the world.M. Brocken, ...

). The Devil's Interval also released their debut album in that year, ''Blood & Honey'' (WildGoose Records), to good reviews and a cover article in '' fRoots'' magazine. After graduating from university, Causley returned home to Devon and since then he has worked with Scottish fiddle player

John McCusker John McCusker (born 15 May 1973) is a Scottish folk musician, record producer, and composer. An accomplished fiddle player, he had a long association as a member of the Battlefield Band beginning in the 1990s and was later a band member and ...

in his Under One Sky project uniting the English and Scottish traditions and also toured and recorded with Essex instrumental quartet Mawkin as Mawkin:Causley, David Rotheray of The Beautiful South fame alongside Eleanor McEvoy and Bella Hardy for Rotheray's 'Life of Birds' album and tours,

Michael Morpurgo Sir Michael Andrew Bridge Morpurgo ('' né'' Bridge; 5 October 1943) is an English book author, poet, playwright, and librettist who is known best for children's novels such as '' War Horse'' (1982). His work is noted for its "magical storyte ...

Show of Hands Show of Hands is an English acoustic roots/ folk duo formed in 1986 by singer-songwriter Steve Knightley (guitars, mandolin, mandocello, cuatro) and composer and multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer (vocals, guitars, violin, viola, mandolin, man ...

for their Arrogance, Ignorance & Greed as well as their 'Centenary; Word & Music of the First World War' albums and

Kate Rusby Kate Anna Rusby (born 4 December 1973) is an English folk singer-songwriter from Penistone, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Sometimes called the "Barnsley Nightingale", she has headlined various British folk festivals, and is one of the be ...

for her 20th anniversary album & tour among others. 2013 saw the release of perhaps Causley's most celebrated works to date; ''Cyprus Well'', an album of his settings of poems by his relative, the Cornish poet

named after and recorded in the late poets house, Cyprus Well in Launceston,

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlan ...

. This album featured Causley mostly playing piano as opposed to accordion and also saw him collaborating with Julie Murphy of the Welsh band Fernhill alongside Welsh-Canadian harpist Ceri Owen-Jones and members of Cornish band Dalla as well as the Pete Berryman Trio. Much of the album Cyprus Well was used in the soundtrack to Cornish filmmaker Jane Darke's film ''The Poet'' about the life of Charles Causley, which first aired on BBC4 TV on Sunday 1 October 2017. In 2016 Causley released two albums; the first was ''

Forgotten Kingdom ''Forgotten Kingdom'' is folk singer-songwriter Jim Causley's fifth studio album excluding his work with The Devil's Interval and Mawkin:Causley. ''Forgotten Kingdom'' is Causley's first album of entirely self-written material although does inc ...

'', his first ever album of entirely self-penned songs which was released on the Show of Hands label and featured a large cast of well regarded West Country musicians. The second album of 2016 was a commission by the Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival following Causley's work with the poems of Charles Causley on Cyprus Well the BMPF invited Causley to create a similar project with another Cornish poet whose centenary was that year;

Jack Clemo Reginald John Clemo (11 March 1916 – 25 July 1994) was a British poet and writer who was strongly associated both with his native Cornwall and his strong Christian belief. His work was considered to be visionary and inspired by the rugged Cor ...

a close friend of Charles Causley who was best man at his wedding. Jim worked with author and Clemo expert Dr Luke Thompson to create this album and enlisted the help of a small group of Cornish musicians plus a children's choir from the school near to where Clemo lived for two of the tracks. This album featured Causley's most piano-heavy and experimental works to date.

Discography

* Jim Causley – ''Fruits of the Earth'' (2005 WildGoose) * The Devil's Interval – ''Blood & Honey'' (2006 WildGoose) * Jim Causley – ''Lost Love Found'' (2007 WildGoose) * Mawkin:Causley – ''Cold Ruin'' (2008 Navigator) * Mawkin:Causley – ''The Awkward Recruit'' (2009 Navigator) * Jim Causley – ''Dumnonia'' (2011 WildGoose) * Jim Causley – ''Cyprus Well'' (2013 Folk Police Recordings)Jim Causley to release new album ‘Cyprus Well’ Folk Radio UK
/ref> * Jim Causley - ''

'' (2015 Hands On Music) * Jim Causley & Luke Thompson - ''The Clay Hymnal: Poems of Jack Clemo'' (2016 WestWords Publishing) * Jim Causley & Friends - ''I Am The Song; Charles Causley's Poems for Children'' (2017 WildGoose) * The Band of Love - ''

Folk Fever Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology * Nation * People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Folk Pl ...

'' (2018 Universal/Island Records) * Jim Causley - ''Special Commissions EP'' (2018 Hrōc Music) * Jim Causley - ''A Causley Christmas!'' (2018 Hrōc Music) * Jim Causley - ''Live in Widecombe!'' (2019 Hrōc Music) * Jim Causley - ''The Lockdown Sessions'' (2020 Hrōc Music) * Jim Causley - ''Devonshire Roses'' (2020 Hrōc Music) * Jim Causley - ''Devonia'' (2021 Hrōc Music) * Jim Causley & Friends - ''Songs of Dartmoor'' (2022 Hrōc Music) * Jim Causley - ''The Georgic'' (2023) * Jim Causley - ''JACOBUS ISCANUS'' (2024)

Guest appearances

* Various – ''Song Links II'' (2005 Fellside) * Waterson–Carthy – '' Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man'' (2006

) * Various Artists – ''The Mother of all Morris'' (2007 Talking Elephant) *

Jackie Oates Jackie Oates is an English folk singer and fiddle player. Life Oates was born in Congleton in Cheshire in 1983 but grew up in Staffordshire. At the age of 18, she moved to Devon to study English literature at Exeter University and was base ...

– ''The Violet Hour'' (2008 Chudleigh Roots) *

Jim Moray Jim Moray (born 1981) is an English folk singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. Recording artist While studying classical composition at the Birmingham Conservatoire, Moray released the home-recorded ''I Am Jim Moray'' EP. During ...

– ''Low Culture'' (2008 NIAG) * Bill Murray & Friends – ''Dow 'pon Ole Dartymoor'' (2008 Wren Music) * Mick Groves – ''Still Spinning'' (2008 Exe Records) *

– ''Under One Sky'' (2009 Navigator Records) *

Ella Edmondson Eleanor Rose "Ella" Edmondson (born 22 January 1986) is an English singer-songwriter. Her primary instrument is the guitar although she can also play the piano.Interview with Judi Spiers on BBC Devon, 16 February 2009. Early life Eleanor Rose Edm ...

– ''Hold Your Horses'' (2009 Monsoon Records) *

– ''

Arrogance Ignorance and Greed ''Arrogance Ignorance and Greed'' is the fourteenth studio album by English folk duo Show of Hands. Released in 2009 on the band's label Hands on Music, the album was produced by Stu Hanna of the English folk duo Megson, with additional producti ...

'' (2009 Hands On Music) * David Rotheray – ''The Life of Birds'' (2010 Proper) *

Phil Beer Phil Beer (born 12 May 1953 in Exminster, Devon, England) is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and one half of English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands. Biography Beer first began to play fiddle, guitar, and mandolin whi ...

– ''Box Set One'' (2010 Chudleigh Roots) *

– ''In Tune With the World: The Poetry of

Seán Rafferty Seán Rafferty (born John Dickson Kerr Rafferty; 6 February 1909, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland – 4 December 1993, in Iddesleigh, Devon, England) was a Scotland, Scottish poet, based in England from 1932 until his death. Career Rafferty studied C ...

'' (2010 Brown Label) * The Woodbine & Ivy Band (2011 Folk Police Recordings) * Mawkin – ''Crow'' (2012 Good Form) * The Imagined Village – ''Bending the Dark'' (2012 Real World) *

– ''20'' (2012 Pure Records/Island Records) * Richard Trethewey – ''Dig Where You Stand'' (2012 self-release) * Gavin Davenport – ''The Bone Orchard'' (2013 Haystack) *

– '' Centenary: Words & Music of the Great War'' (2014 U.M.T.V.) * Maggie Duffy – ''Closer to Home'' (2015 PFRD Records) * Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage - ''Before the Sun'' (2016 Sungrazing) * Tony Dean - ''Last Orders'' (2016 Estate of Tony Dean) * Geoff Lakeman - ''After All These Years'' - 2016 * Chris Foster (folk singer) - ''Hadelin'' - 2017

Compilations

* Various – ''2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards'' (2005 Proper) * Various – ''2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards'' (2006 Proper) * Various – ''Folk Rising'' (2007 Proper) * Various – ''2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards'' (2008 Proper) * Various – ''Folk Rising 2'' (2008 Proper) * Various – ''Beginners Guide to English Folk'' (2008 Nascente) * Various – ''2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards'' (2009 Proper) * Various - ''2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards'' (2017 Proper)

Awards and nominations

*2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - Horizon Award (best newcomer) *2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - Horizon Award - The Devil's Interval *2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - Best Group - Mawkin:Causley *2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - Best Group - Mawkin:Causley *2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - Best Traditional Song - Mawkin:Causley *2013 The Telegraph Top Ten Folk Albums of the Year (Cyprus Well) *2014 Spiral Earth awards - Male Singer of the Year winner *2016 Mojo Magazine - Top Ten Folk Albums of the Year (Forgotten Kingdom) *2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - Singer of the Year *2017

Gorsedh Kernow Gorsedh Kernow (Cornish Gorsedd) is a non-political Cornish organisation, based in Cornwall, United Kingdom, which exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall. It is based on the Welsh-based Gorsedd, which was founded by Iolo Morg ...

- The Mike Hartland Award for work which engages people in Cornish culture - The Clay Hymnal by Jim Causley

References

External links

Official Jim Causley Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Causley, Jim 1981 births Living people People from East Devon District Alumni of Newcastle University English folk singers English folk guitarists English male guitarists Musicians from Devon 21st-century British singers 21st-century British guitarists 21st-century British male singers