JOY OF LIVING
Ewan MacColl wrote The Young Birds in 1961 in memory of 34 South London schoolboys (including friends of his oldest son, Hamish) who were killed in a plane crash while on a school trip. Ewan is best known for his pivotal role in the British folk revival and his vast catalogue of songs including The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (written for his wife Peggy Seeger), Dirty Old Town and The Manchester Rambler.
‘The Young Birds’ performed by Jack Steadman and Jamie MacColl of Bombay Bicycle Club is taken from the album Joy of Living: A Tribute to Ewan MacColl (via Cooking Vinyl, 30th October 2015)
The release is to mark the occasion of Ewan MacColl’s centenary year. Produced by Ewan’s sons Calum and Neill MacColl, the album features a host of artists from across the worlds of pop, rock and folk, including Rufus & Martha Wainwright, Steve Earle, Jarvis Cocker, David Gray, Paul Brady, The Unthanks, Billy Bragg and Paul Buchanan (The Blue Nile) and many more.
‘Moving On Song’ tells of the plight of Romany people whose way of life was slowly disappearing. Performed by the authentic voice of Norma Waterson whose grandmother was part Romany.
This is Ewan MacColl’s centenary year, an occasion marked by the release of this double CD tribute album, a series of multi-artist live concerts, radio documentaries, television features and press coverage.
A series of multi-artist live concerts, radio documentaries, television features and press coverage will also take place to mark the release including a date at The Lowry Theatre in Salford.
Live dates:
Tuesday Nov 3 – Liverpool, Philharmonic
Wednesday Nov 4- Salford, Lowry Theatre
Thursday Nov 5 – Gateshead, The Sage
Friday Nov 9 – Barbican, London
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