Hatful of Rain (band)

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Hatful of Rain
Background information
OriginBrighton and Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England[1]
GenresBluegrass music and acoustic folk
Years active2010–present[2]
LabelsUnion Music Store; Long Way Home Music
MembersFred Gregory – guitar, mandolin, vocals • Phil Jones – double bass, vocals, clawhammer banjo • Chloe Overton – vocals, guitars, mandolin
Past membersBen McGuire – banjo • James Shenton – fiddle, piano, harmonica
Websitewww.hatfulofrain.co.uk

Hatful of Rain, an acoustic music group from Brighton and Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England,[1] perform original material[3] that combines English folk sounds with harmony singing[3][4] and American bluegrass music.[2][3][5] Critically acclaimed,[2][3][5][6][7][nb 1] the band came to the attention of broadcaster Mike Harding, who played their music on his BBC Radio 2 show.[8] The band also performed live on BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris Sunday programme on 24 March 2013.[6]

Origins[edit]

Mandolin player Fred Gregory (who is also with the group Porchlight Smoker),[9] vocalist Chloe Overton and banjo/bass player Phil Jones first performed together at a 2010 South Coast folk festival, and were later joined by violinist James Shenton who has played with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Balanescu Quartet.[2] The band's name comes from the lyric "Got a head full of lightning and a hatful of rain", in the Tom Waits song "Long Way Home".[10]

Recording history[edit]

Their debut album, Way Up on the Hill,[2] was released on 30 May 2012. Actress Amanda Abbington performed in the official video that accompanied the release of The Exit Song, a single from the album.[1] The video was directed by Jamie Freeman (brother of actor Martin Freeman)[11] and Stevie Freeman,[12] who run the Union Music store in Lewes, East Sussex.[13]

Their second album, The Morning Key, was released on 25 May 2014. The album's title comes from a song by Jones, "Broad Woolly Back", written about his emotional experiences following the death of his father. The album was produced by Al Scott, better known for his work with The Levellers. In a review for Folk Radio UK, Paul Woodgate said that the album "strikes for the heart and head and succeeds on both counts...If you like Rusby, the Wailin’ Jenny's and Cara Dillon, add this to your 'must listen' list".[14] Iain Hazlewood, for Spiral Earth, said: "The combination of mandolin, banjo, bass and fiddle is nigh on perfect, the songs have space to grow but they know exactly when to roll with it."[15]

The band's first EP, Climb the Air, was released on 15 April 2016.

Discography[edit]

Album Release date Label
Way Up on the Hill 30 May 2012 Union Music Store (UMS003)
The Morning Key 25 May 2014 Union Music Store (UMS006)
Songs of the Lost and Found 1 July 2018 Long Way Home Music (LWHM004)
EP Release date Label
Climb the Air 15 April 2016 Long Way Home Music (LWHM001)
Single Release date Label
"The Exit Song" (digital download) 23 July 2012[12] Union Music Store
"These Streets" (digital download) 28 April 2014[16] Union Music Store
"Scarlet Ribbon" (digital download) 28 November 2014[17] Union Music Store

Personal lives[edit]

Chloe Overton, the band's singer and lyricist, works as a midwife.[11] She has four children. Fred Gregory, guitar and mandolin, works as a carpenter. Phil Jones, bass and banjo, works as a workplace mediator.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Reviewer Steve Price describes the group as "gifted", giving "impressively polished performances" and having a "confidently beautiful sound" with, in Chloe Overton, a "captivating lead voice". Price, Steve (12 March 2014). "What's on in Twickenham at Twickfolk in March and April". Your Twickenham. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Hatful Of Rain". The Argus (Brighton). June 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e Miller, Norman (5 July 2012). "Hatful Of Rain – Way Up On The Hill (Union Music Store)". Bearded. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Wilkinson, Allan (21 July 2012). "Album Review: Hatful of Rain – Way Up On The Hill (Union Music Store)". Music news. Northern Sky. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  4. ^ Bradley, Pete (2014). "Hatful Of Rain". Reviews. FATEA. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Hatful of Rain: 'Way Up On The Hill'". Spiral Earth. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Hatful of Rain play live". Bob Harris Sunday. BBC. 24 March 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  7. ^ Stevenson, Peter. "CD Reviews by Peter Stevenson". Music Maker. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Music Played". Mike Harding 23/05/2012. BBC Radio 2. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  9. ^ "About". Porchlight Smoker. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  10. ^ "The Music Doesn't Stop #12: Hatful of Rain". Someofitistrue.com. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  11. ^ a b Hartley, Emma (30 April 2013). "Hatful of Rain and The Hobbit himself, Martin Freeman". Emma Hartley's Glamour Cave. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Hatful Of Rain – The Exit Song OFFICIAL". Union Music Store. Shelby TV. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  13. ^ Rogers, Jude (24 March 2013). "Independent record shops: 10 of the best in Britain". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  14. ^ Woodgate, Paul (7 May 2014). "Hatful Of Rain – The Morning Key". Album reviews. Folk Radio UK. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  15. ^ Hazlewood, Iain (17 May 2014). "The Morning Key – Hatful of Rain". Spiral Earth. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  16. ^ Gallacher, Alex (23 April 2014). "Hatful Of Rain Release Single and Video For 'These Streets'". Folk Radio UK. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  17. ^ "News for the week of December 2nd 2014". The International Americana Music Show. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2014.

External links[edit]

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