Jim Causley

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Jim Causley
Origin Whimple, Devon, England
Years active 1999 - present
Genres Traditional Devonshire folk music
Labels WildGoose Records

Jim Causley is an English folk singer, songwriter, and musician from Whimple, in the heart of Cyder Country in East Devon. He was born on November 2, 1980.

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[edit] Biography

Jim Causley is a young folk singer/musician from Devon who specializes in the traditional songs and music of the West Country and Devon in particular. Hailing from the village of Whimple in East Devon, Causley was born in Exeter in 1980 to Ross & Jo Causley, prominent singers on the Devon folk scene in their own right and relations to the Cornish poet Charles Causley. Causley grew up surrounded by traditional music from his family, his village in the heart of Cider Country with its thriving wassailing tradition, its close proximity to Sidmouth and Dartmoor folk festivals and being a long standing member of the renowned Pennymoor Singaround. After studying music at Exeter College, Causley moved to Newcastle where he joined the second intake of the then new Folk and Traditional Music degree course at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 to great acclaim and since then his reputation as a fine singer of great character and skill has escalated. Widely noted for his rich, fruity bass voice and cheeky stage prescence, Causley was snapped up my Martyn Wyndham-Read to guest on his landmark 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 three consecutive years and in 2006 collaborated with them on their celebrated album 'Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man' (Topic Records). The Devil's Interval also released their debut album in that year; 'Blood & Honey' (WildGoose Records) and recieved rave reveiws accompanied by a cover article in the highly respected fRoots Magazine.

[edit] What's he up to now?!

After graduating from university, Causley returned to Devon where alongside performing across the UK he works with the Wren Trust, a community music organisation which was set up to encourage traditional arts and music in Devon and to reconnect people with their local heritage. Causley also plays an important role in the annual Whimple Wassail ceremony, being the official leader of the singing and musicians. Recent projects include working with Scottish fiddle guru John McCusker in his Under One Sky project unighting the English and Scottish traditions and also touring with Essex foursome, Mawkin as Mawkin:Causley.

Fruits of the Earth album cover
Fruits of the Earth album cover

[edit] Discography

Jim Causley - Fruits of the Earth, 2005 (WildGoose)

Various - Song Links 2, 2005 (Fellside)

Various - 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, 2005 (Proper)

The Devil's Interval - Blood & Honey, 2006 (WildGoose)

Waterson:Carthy - Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man, 2006 (Topic)

Various - 2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, 2006 (Proper)

[edit] External Links