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Blamire and Davies met at school in [[Sussex]] during the late 1990s. They spent 2002 in [[New Orleans]], where they absorbed American blues music.<ref>Helen Martin, [http://www.ameliasmagazine.com/music/an-interview-with-the-smoke-fairies/2011/03/15/ "Interview with the Smoke Fairies",] ''Amelia’s Magazine'', 15 March 2011.</ref> When they returned to England they discovered British folk music at the [[Sidmouth Folk Week]] Festival while working as car park attendants.<ref>Phil Udell, [http://www.heinekenmusic.ie/interviews/2700/the-smoke-fairies-in-conversation/ "The Smoke Fairies in Conversation"], Heineken.</ref> They later settled in [[Vancouver]], [[Canada]], for a year before returning to [[London]] to start performing.<ref name="Slant">Ben Umstead, [http://slantmagazine.com/music/feature/interview-smoke-fairies/267 "Interview with the Smoke Fairies",] ''[[Slant Magazine]]'', 18 July 2011.</ref>
Blamire and Davies met at school in [[Sussex]] during the late 1990s. They spent 2002 in [[New Orleans]], where they absorbed American blues music.<ref>Helen Martin, [http://www.ameliasmagazine.com/music/an-interview-with-the-smoke-fairies/2011/03/15/ "Interview with the Smoke Fairies",] ''Amelia’s Magazine'', 15 March 2011.</ref> When they returned to England they discovered British folk music at the [[Sidmouth Folk Week]] Festival while working as car park attendants.<ref>Phil Udell, [http://www.heinekenmusic.ie/interviews/2700/the-smoke-fairies-in-conversation/ "The Smoke Fairies in Conversation"], Heineken.</ref> They later settled in [[Vancouver]], [[Canada]], for a year before returning to [[London]] to start performing.<ref name="Slant">Ben Umstead, [http://slantmagazine.com/music/feature/interview-smoke-fairies/267 "Interview with the Smoke Fairies",] ''[[Slant Magazine]]'', 18 July 2011.</ref>


In 2007, Smoke Fairies toured the UK in support of [[Bryan Ferry]] and the following year they released their debut single, "Living with Ghosts", on Music for Heroes.<ref>Moff Gimmers [http://www.electricroulette.com/2008/06/review---smoke.html "Review: Smoke Fairies",] ''Electric Roulette'', 23 June 2008.</ref> [[Richard Hawley]] was an early supporter of the act, saying they were "frankly the best thing I have heard in years".<ref>Valerio Berdini, [http://liveon35mm.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/smoke-fairies "Smoke Fairies",] ''Live on 35mm''. Retrieved 16 April 2013.</ref> They supported Hawley on his True Love’s Gutter Tour of the UK in October 2009.<ref>Matt Hopkinson, [http://soundsxp.com/artman2/publish/gigs/hawley_smoke_fairies_lyceum_sheffield.shtml "Hawley and Smoke Fairies at the Lyceum, Sheffield",] ''SoundsXP'', 10 October 2009.</ref>
In 2007, Smoke Fairies toured the UK in support of [[Bryan Ferry]] and the following year they released their debut single, "Living with Ghosts", on Music for Heroes.<ref>Moff Gimmers [http://www.electricroulette.com/2008/06/review---smoke.html "Review: Smoke Fairies",] ''Electric Roulette'', 23 June 2008.</ref> [[Richard Hawley]] was an early supporter of the act, saying they were "frankly the best thing I have heard in years".<ref>Valerio Berdini, [http://liveon35mm.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/smoke-fairies "Smoke Fairies",] ''Live on 35mm''. Retrieved 16 April 2013.</ref> They supported Hawley on his Truelove’s Gutter Tour of the UK in October 2009.<ref>Matt Hopkinson, [http://soundsxp.com/artman2/publish/gigs/hawley_smoke_fairies_lyceum_sheffield.shtml "Hawley and Smoke Fairies at the Lyceum, Sheffield",] ''SoundsXP'', 10 October 2009.</ref>


In December 2009, Smoke Fairies became the first UK act to release a single on [[Jack White (musician)|Jack White's]] label [[Third Man Records]].<ref>Chris Mugan, [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/smoke-fairies-folk-heroines-long-odyssey-2056865.html "Folk Heroines' Long Odyssey".] ''The Independent,'' 20 August 2010.</ref> The [[Double A-side|double A-side single]], "Gastown" / "River Song", was produced by Jack White who also played guitar and drums. Smoke Fairies performed at the 2010 South by South West ([[SXSW]]) festival in [[Texas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.m-magazine.co.uk/featuresinterviews/features/what-sxsw-did-for-me-jessica-smoke-fairies/ |title=What SXSW did for us - Smoke Fairies &#124; M Magazine M magazine: PRS for Music online magazine - PRS for Music Online Magazine |publisher=M-magazine.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2014-07-14}}</ref> and supported [[Laura Marling]] on a month-long tour of the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.lauramarling.com/news/2010/05/04/us-tour-starts-today/ |title=US Tour Starts Today… |publisher=Laura Marling |date=2010-05-04 |accessdate=2014-07-14}}</ref>
In December 2009, Smoke Fairies became the first UK act to release a single on [[Jack White (musician)|Jack White's]] label [[Third Man Records]].<ref>Chris Mugan, [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/smoke-fairies-folk-heroines-long-odyssey-2056865.html "Folk Heroines' Long Odyssey".] ''The Independent,'' 20 August 2010.</ref> The [[Double A-side|double A-side single]], "Gastown" / "River Song", was produced by Jack White who also played guitar and drums. Smoke Fairies performed at the 2010 South by South West ([[SXSW]]) festival in [[Texas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.m-magazine.co.uk/featuresinterviews/features/what-sxsw-did-for-me-jessica-smoke-fairies/ |title=What SXSW did for us - Smoke Fairies &#124; M Magazine M magazine: PRS for Music online magazine - PRS for Music Online Magazine |publisher=M-magazine.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2014-07-14}}</ref> and supported [[Laura Marling]] on a month-long tour of the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.lauramarling.com/news/2010/05/04/us-tour-starts-today/ |title=US Tour Starts Today… |publisher=Laura Marling |date=2010-05-04 |accessdate=2014-07-14}}</ref>
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Smoke Fairies' follow-up album, ''[[Blood Speaks]]'', was released on 21 May 2012,<ref name="Smoke Fairies: Blood Speaks">{{cite web|author=James Christopher Monger |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/blood-speaks-mw0002346781 |title=Blood Speaks - Smoke Fairies &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2012-05-21 |accessdate=2014-07-14}}</ref> again with a delayed release in the US of 23 April 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/blood-speaks/smoke-fairies |title=Reviews for Blood Speaks by Smoke Fairies |publisher=Metacritic |date= |accessdate=2014-07-14}}</ref> Again produced by Head ''[[Blood Speaks]]'' was this time recorded in West London’s Eastcote Studio and is inspired by London and by travelling.<ref>Piccadilly Records, [http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/products/SmokeFairies-BloodSpeaks-V2-82529.html " Blood Speaks - Smoke Fairies"] ''[[Piccadilly Records]]'', 21 May 2012.</ref>
Smoke Fairies' follow-up album, ''[[Blood Speaks]]'', was released on 21 May 2012,<ref name="Smoke Fairies: Blood Speaks">{{cite web|author=James Christopher Monger |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/blood-speaks-mw0002346781 |title=Blood Speaks - Smoke Fairies &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2012-05-21 |accessdate=2014-07-14}}</ref> again with a delayed release in the US of 23 April 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/blood-speaks/smoke-fairies |title=Reviews for Blood Speaks by Smoke Fairies |publisher=Metacritic |date= |accessdate=2014-07-14}}</ref> Again produced by Head ''[[Blood Speaks]]'' was this time recorded in West London’s Eastcote Studio and is inspired by London and by travelling.<ref>Piccadilly Records, [http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/products/SmokeFairies-BloodSpeaks-V2-82529.html " Blood Speaks - Smoke Fairies"] ''[[Piccadilly Records]]'', 21 May 2012.</ref>


They also contributed vocals to the track Valentina, a tribute to [[Valentina Tereshkova]] - the first woman and the first civilian into space - on "[[The Race for Space (album)|The Race For Space]]", the second album by [[Public Service Broadcasting (band)]]. In November 2015 they released the album ''Wild Winter'' followed by a UK tour.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/19/smoke-fairies-wild-winter-review-sprawling-desert-rock-soundscapes|title=Smoke Fairies: Wild Winter review – sprawling desert-rock soundscapes|last=Gibsone|first=Harriet|date=2015-11-19|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2016-08-09}}</ref> It was preceded by the self-released Live in St Pancras Old Church.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://echoesanddust.com/2015/08/smoke-fairies-featuring-rasputina-live-at-st-pancras-old-church/|title=Smoke Fairies featuring Rasputina – Live at St Pancras Old Church {{!}} Echoes And Dust|website=echoesanddust.com|access-date=2016-08-09}}</ref>
They also contributed vocals to the track Valentina, a tribute to [[Valentina Tereshkova]] - the first woman and the first civilian into space - on "[[The Race for Space (album)|The Race For Space]]", the second album by [[Public Service Broadcasting (band)]]. In November 2015 they released the album ''Wild Winter'' followed by a UK tour.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/19/smoke-fairies-wild-winter-review-sprawling-desert-rock-soundscapes|title=Smoke Fairies: Wild Winter review – sprawling desert-rock soundscapes|last=Gibsone|first=Harriet|date=2015-11-19|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2016-08-09}}</ref> It was preceded by the self-released Live in St Pancras Old Church.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://echoesanddust.com/2015/08/smoke-fairies-featuring-rasputina-live-at-st-pancras-old-church/|title=Smoke Fairies featuring Rasputina – Live at St Pancras Old Church {{!}} Echoes And Dust|website=echoesanddust.com|access-date=2016-08-09}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==

Revision as of 12:38, 10 August 2016

Smoke Fairies
OriginChichester, England
GenresAlternative, indie rock, folk rock
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, piano, organ, keyboards, percussion
Years active2006–present
MembersKatherine Blamire
Jessica Davies
Websitesmokefairies.com

Smoke Fairies is a British dream pop duo comprising Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies.[1]

History

Blamire and Davies met at school in Sussex during the late 1990s. They spent 2002 in New Orleans, where they absorbed American blues music.[2] When they returned to England they discovered British folk music at the Sidmouth Folk Week Festival while working as car park attendants.[3] They later settled in Vancouver, Canada, for a year before returning to London to start performing.[4]

In 2007, Smoke Fairies toured the UK in support of Bryan Ferry and the following year they released their debut single, "Living with Ghosts", on Music for Heroes.[5] Richard Hawley was an early supporter of the act, saying they were "frankly the best thing I have heard in years".[6] They supported Hawley on his Truelove’s Gutter Tour of the UK in October 2009.[7]

In December 2009, Smoke Fairies became the first UK act to release a single on Jack White's label Third Man Records.[8] The double A-side single, "Gastown" / "River Song", was produced by Jack White who also played guitar and drums. Smoke Fairies performed at the 2010 South by South West (SXSW) festival in Texas[9] and supported Laura Marling on a month-long tour of the United States.[10]

They signed to V2 Records/Cooperative Music and released their debut album Through Low Light and Trees in September 2010,[11] latterly self-released in the United States in June 2011 via Year Seven Records.[12] The album was produced by long-term PJ Harvey collaborator Head and recorded at Sawmills Studio in Cornwall, United Kingdom.[12]

To promote the album the band was invited to record a live session for Marc Riley on BBC Radio 6.[13] And invited back for another session a few months later.[14] The duo also recorded a live session with their band for John Kennedy’s "X-Posure" on XFM.[15] In November 2010, Smoke Fairies’ recording of Neil Young's "Alabama" appeared on a special Mojo album to mark the approaching fortieth anniversary of Young's Harvest LP.[16]

The band embarked on its first headline tour of the UK – a sell-out – in January–February 2011[17] and performed at several festivals that summer, including Primavera Sound in Barcelona.[18] Before heading to the United States in June 2011 to perform at North by Northeast Festival and their own headline shows, returning again in August 2011 Jessica & Katherine toured the U.S. with Rasputina.[19] Smoke Fairies again returned to the US in October to play support for Blitzen Trapper and Dawes making their second coast-to-coast tour of the year.[20]

Smoke Fairies' follow-up album, Blood Speaks, was released on 21 May 2012,[21] again with a delayed release in the US of 23 April 2013.[22] Again produced by Head Blood Speaks was this time recorded in West London’s Eastcote Studio and is inspired by London and by travelling.[23]

They also contributed vocals to the track Valentina, a tribute to Valentina Tereshkova - the first woman and the first civilian into space - on "The Race For Space", the second album by Public Service Broadcasting (band). In November 2015 they released the album Wild Winter followed by a UK tour.[24] It was preceded by the self-released Live in St Pancras Old Church.[25]

Discography

Albums

  • Strange the Things (Concentrated / Concentrated People, 6 August 2007)[26]
  • Through Low Light and Trees (UK: V2 / Cooperative Music, 6 September 2010. U.S.: Year Seven Records, June 2011)
  • Blood Speaks (V2 records, 21 May 2012)[21]
  • Smoke Fairies (Full Time Hobby, 14 April 2014)[27]
  • Wild Winter (Full Time Hobby, 12 December 2015)
  • Live At St Pancras Old Church (October 2015)

Compilations

  • Ghosts: A Compilation of A Sides, B Sides and an EP from the Recent Past

Singles and EPs

  • "Living with Ghosts" / "Troubles" – 7" (Music for Heros, August 2008)
  • Frozen Heart – 7" EP ("Frozen Heart", "Fences", "Morning Light", "We Had Lost Our Minds", "He's Moving On") (Music for Heros, July 2009)
  • "Sunshine" / "When you Grow Old" – 7" (October 2009)
  • "Gastown" / "River Song" – 7" limited edition of 150 on tri-colored vinyl; Texas-sized 8" limited edition (Third Man Records, September 2009)
  • "Hotel Room" / "Human Concerns" – 7" limited edition of 300 (V2 / Cooperative Music) (2010)
  • "Strange Moon Rising" / "Requiem" – 7" limited edition of 500 (V2 / Cooperative Music, 24 January 2011)
  • "Strange Moon Rising" / "Alabama" – 7" limited UK tour edition (V2 / Cooperative Music) (24 Jan 2011)
  • "Hotel Room" / "Strange Moon Rising" – 7" limited edition of 500 on blue-marbled vinyl (453 Music, 16 April 2011, World Record Store Day)
  • "Storm Song" / "Storm Song Demo" – 7" limited edition of 500 (V2 / Cooperative Music, 16 May 2011)

Contributions to anthologies

  • "Good Man" on Live at the Electroacoustic Club, Vol. 2 (Running Jump Records, 13 November 2006)
  • "Troubles" on What's Kickin'?, Vol. 2 (Stove Pony, 14 May 2007)
  • "Troubles" on Shivering Sands and Scavenging Birds (Thames Delta Recording Co., 14 October 2009)
  • "Alabama" on Harvest Revisited (Promotional CD issued with Mojo Magazine, February 2011)

Guest appearances

  • Backing vocals on Richard Hawley's False Lights from the Land EP (Mute Records, 7 June 2010)
  • Backing vocals on Public Service Broadcasting's track Valentina off their "The Race for Space" album (2015)

References

  1. ^ Charlotte Cripps (18 April 2014). "Smoke fairies rekindle their fire: Listen exclusively to their new album - Features - Music". The Independent. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  2. ^ Helen Martin, "Interview with the Smoke Fairies", Amelia’s Magazine, 15 March 2011.
  3. ^ Phil Udell, "The Smoke Fairies in Conversation", Heineken.
  4. ^ Ben Umstead, "Interview with the Smoke Fairies", Slant Magazine, 18 July 2011.
  5. ^ Moff Gimmers "Review: Smoke Fairies", Electric Roulette, 23 June 2008.
  6. ^ Valerio Berdini, "Smoke Fairies", Live on 35mm. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  7. ^ Matt Hopkinson, "Hawley and Smoke Fairies at the Lyceum, Sheffield", SoundsXP, 10 October 2009.
  8. ^ Chris Mugan, "Folk Heroines' Long Odyssey". The Independent, 20 August 2010.
  9. ^ "What SXSW did for us - Smoke Fairies | M Magazine M magazine: PRS for Music online magazine - PRS for Music Online Magazine". M-magazine.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  10. ^ "US Tour Starts Today…". Laura Marling. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  11. ^ David Sheppard, "Review: Through Low Light and Trees", BBC, 8 September 2010
  12. ^ a b Kevin O’Donnell, " Jack White Faves Smoke Fairies" Spin, 14 June 2011.
  13. ^ "BBC Radio 6 Music - Marc Riley, 07/10/2010". Bbc.co.uk. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  14. ^ "BBC Radio 6 Music - Marc Riley, Smoke Fairies". Bbc.co.uk. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  15. ^ "Xposure with John Kennedy | Monday to Thursday 10pm to 1am | Radio". XFM. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  16. ^ "MOJO Issue 207 / February 2011". Mojo Magazine. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  17. ^ Peter Robinson "This Week's New Live Music", The Guardian, 15 January 2011.
  18. ^ [1] Template:Wayback
  19. ^ Brooklyn Vegan, " Smoke Fairies released an LP in the US, playing NXNE, NYC & shows w/ Rasputina (dates)" Brooklyn Vegan, 14 June 2011.
  20. ^ Riley Ubben,Blitzen Trapper and Dawes Announce Tour, Paste (magazine), August 2011.
  21. ^ a b James Christopher Monger (21 May 2012). "Blood Speaks - Smoke Fairies | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  22. ^ "Reviews for Blood Speaks by Smoke Fairies". Metacritic. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  23. ^ Piccadilly Records, " Blood Speaks - Smoke Fairies" Piccadilly Records, 21 May 2012.
  24. ^ Gibsone, Harriet (19 November 2015). "Smoke Fairies: Wild Winter review – sprawling desert-rock soundscapes". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Smoke Fairies featuring Rasputina – Live at St Pancras Old Church | Echoes And Dust". echoesanddust.com. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  26. ^ "Strange the Things - Smoke Fairies | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  27. ^ James Christopher Monger (14 April 2014). "Smoke Fairies - Smoke Fairies | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
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