Karine Polwart

Scots songwriter Karine Polwart combines the economy and universality of the folk storytelling tradition with a probing intellect and compassionate lyricism. Twice winner of “Best Original Song” at the UK-wide BBC Folk Awards, she’s collaborated with alt folk balladeer King Creosote, the intellectual maverick of English folk song Chris Wood, Idlewild front man Roddy Woomble, bluegrass ace Tim O’Brien, not to mention unexpected guest appearances with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and dub-reggae legends Sly and Robbie. None of which you'd expect from a lass who grew up in the Stirlingshire village of Banknock.



Following the breakthrough success of her debut album “Faultlines”, and its lush 2006 successor ”Scribbled in Chalk”, Karine released two albums on her own micro label, hegri music, the stark and intimate trad balladry of 2007's "Fairest Floo'er" and her 2008 bittersweet collection of original songs “This Earthly Spell”.



Karine is one third of the sparky female vocal harmony trio Grace, Hewat, Polwart and one eighth of the joyous Scots-Canadian, multi-headed musical creature The Burns Unit (in which you might even find her playing drums .)



Off the road, Karine is likely to be found tramping the roads and fields near the home in Southern Scotland, which she shares with bandmate, producer and partner Mattie Foulds, singing to herself and her wee son Arlo and looking for bullfinches and herons.



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Welcome to My(wee)space



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Welcome, welcome to my wee musical corner of Scotland. There are more myspace users out there than there are people in Britain, so it's a small miracle that you've landed here. Thanks for following your nose. I look after this space myself as a touring musician and mum to a small and beautiful boy, so please try to bear with me if you send me a friend request or message and I don't reply instantly (or even if a week or two goes by, or indeed by some quirk you never hear from me). I try my best but there is no hidden web-team and it takes more than just a minute or so . and sometimes a word or two slips through . But hey walking slow in this world is no crime, eh? Anyway, hope you enjoy the view from wherever you are.



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Collaborative projects

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GRACE, HEWAT, POLWART



"give fresh definition to the word ballsy” (The Scotsman)



THE BURNS UNIT



“a canny ability to blend disparate styles: from tender odes to serendipity.to jacked-up carnival rock; from MIA-esque melodica-backed protest song to a sinister, bloody ballad - the band fuse their contrasting talents and leave no signs of suture or ego” (The Skinny)



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Video

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Visit Karine Polwart's offical website: www.karinepolwart.com for more.



“a passionate, perceptive songwriter” (Uncut 2008)

“exceptionally subtle and melodic” (Q 2008)

"takes the heart to places few singers even know exist" (WORD 2008)

"righteous and beautiful" (MOJO 2006)

"grippingly understated storytelling" (THE TIMES 2006)



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