| Jim Causley | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 31, 1980 |
| Origin | Devon, England |
| Genres | Traditional Devonshire folk music |
| Years active | 1999 - present |
| Labels | WildGoose Records, Navigator Records |
Jim Causley (born 31 October 1980, Exeter) is an English folk singer, songwriter, and musician from Whimple, East Devon, England.
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Jim Causley is a folk singer and 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 and is a relative of 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 Pennymoor Singaround. 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. 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.[1] 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). 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 where alongside performing across the UK he works with the Wren Music, 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 is the official leader of the singing and musicians in the annual Whimple Wassail ceremony. Recent projects include working with Scottish fiddle player John McCusker in his Under One Sky project uniting the English and Scottish traditions and also touring with Essex instrumental quartet, Mawkin as Mawkin:Causley. To date, Causley has been nominated for five BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards both solo and in his various guises. So far he has won none!
Causley has been collaborating with ex Beautiful South songwriter and guitarist David Rotheray for Rotheray's 2010 album 'The Life of Birds' (Proper Records). The touring band features Rotheray (guitar), Jim Causley and Bella Hardy (vocals), Damon Butcher (piano) and Gary Hammond (percussion). The album launch tour was early summer 2010 and another tour is scheduled for November 2010.
Causley is currently working on his third solo album due for release in February 2011 on the WildGoose label when he is supporting Steve Knightley on his annual solo tour. This album will have a strong Devon flavour... kind of creamy.
Causley is working with the organisations Cyprus Well and the Charles Causley Trust in a project promoting the late poet's work and which will culminate in a cd of Charles Causley poems set to music.
He has been involved with author Michael Morpurgo's charitable organisation Farms for City Children in the production of a cd of the poetry of Seán Rafferty who was a Scottish poet who settled in the Devon village of Iddesleigh and was a great influence on the work of Morpurgo.
Causley is also set to feature in the latest 'folk play' by Mick Ryan entitled Who Stole Christmas.