Tim van Eyken
“The giant strides made by English folk music in recent years will not shorten while it remains in such accomplished hands” The Daily Telegraph
Those who saw Tim van Eyken win the 1998 BBC Young Folk Award knew there would be a glittering career ahead of this young musician with a passion for traditional English music. 14 years on and Tim has established himself not only as one of the leading lights in the revitalisation of English folk music, but an actor, dancer and musical director with National Theatre and West End credits to his name.
At the outset of his career touring and recording with Waterson:Carthy honed his instrumental skill and saw him develop into a captivating singer, but working with contemporaries Robert Harbron, Benji Kirkpatrick and Paul Sartin as Dr Faustus set Tim right at the forefront of the movement championing English folk music leading to the current vibrant and thriving English scene.
When Tim decided to record his own album he drew together an all-star cast in Nancy Fagan, Pete Flood ,Oliver Knight and Colin Fletcher and the resulting album ‘Stiffs Lovers, Holymen, Thieves’ received spectacular reviews and was acclaimed everywhere from ‘Mojo’ to ‘The Sun’. When right at the top of his game in 2008 Tim was presented with another opportunity that took him in a totally different, but no less creative, direction. He was asked to audition for the part of Songman in the National Theatre’s production ‘Warhorse’ and was part of the original production and it’s subsequent transfer to the West End.
With a smash West End hit under his belt ,in October 2011, Tim was commissioned as Musical Director for a production of C P Taylor’s play ‘Good’ directed by Polly Findlay at The Royal Exchange in Manchester. He has also been commissioned to devise a musical play for Radio 4, a retelling of the story of the traditional ballad Lord Bateman. Tim is also working as an actor, dancer and musical collaborator on a new devised piece of dance theatre directed by Kate Flatt ‘The Ballroom of Joys and Sorrows’ for Watford Palace Theatre which opens in late May> Click HERE for more information
Those who saw Tim van Eyken win the 1998 BBC Young Folk Award knew there would be a glittering career ahead of this young musician with a passion for traditional English music. His career as a solo artist looked promising until an offer came along that he just couldn’t refuse: he was invited to become the fourth member of Waterson:Carthy and he recorded and toured the world with them for the next 6 years. It was the apprenticeship of a life-time and the experience has not only honed his instrumental skill but also seen him develop in to one of the most assured and captivating singers around.
Tim was also a founder member of the band Dr Faustus, in collaboration with Robert Harbron, Benji Kirkpatrick and Paul Sartin. The band was at the forefront of the movement championing English folk music that breathed new life into the now vibrant and thriving English scene.
When Tim decided to record his own album he drew together an all-star cast in fiddler Nancy Fagan, percussionist Pete Flood (Bellowhead), guitarist Oliver Knight (Lal Waterson’s son and collaborator) and Colin Fletcher, bass maestro, to help realise his ambitions. Tim’s album , ‘Stiffs Lovers Holymen Thieves’, was released on Topic records in June 2006 and has received spectacular reviews in the mainstream press and been acclaimed everywhere from ‘Mojo’ to ‘The Sun’. Long stints in both the Virgin Megastores Roots Top 20 and the BBC Radio 2 Folk charts have confirmed its appeal and broadcasters from Mike Harding to Andy Kershaw have championed Tim and his album. No surprises then that Tim and the band Van Eyken, were nominated for no less than 4 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2007 and went on to scoop the award for ‘Best Traditional Track’ with ‘Barleycorn’ amid fierce opposition from Seth Lakeman, Salsa Celtica and Kris Drever. Two summers of touring with Van Eyken saw Tim and the band playing at festivals across the country and performing headline shows at two of the Uk’s biggest folk events.
When right at the top of his game in 2008, for a second time an opportunity came Tim’s way that was too interesting to turn down. He was asked to audition for the part of Songman in the National Theatre’s production “Warhorse”. He landed the part and spent much of the next two years in the role firstly at the National Theatre and for it’s subsequent transfer to the West End. With a smash West End hit under his belt in October 2011 Tim was commissioned as Musical Director for a production of C P Taylor’s play ‘Good’ directed by Polly Findlay at The Royal Exchange in Manchester.
MySpace – www.myspace.com/timvaneyken
Official Website – www.timvaneyken.co.uk
“The giant strides made by English folk music in recent years will not shorten while it remains in such accomplished hands” The Daily Telegraph
“van Eyken, at his best, encourages the songs to speak for themselves, and finds that they still have plenty to say” POP CD of the Week. The Sunday Times
“a Clarion call for tradition…. A triumph” The Observer
“van Eyken ….. truly comes of age with this album of traditional songs dressed in innovative arrangements” TIME OUT
“Outstanding, sparse and elegant folk from award-winning young performer … ‘Stiffs, Lovers, Holymen, Thieves’ is a masterpiece that deserves a place on the shelf of every folk music afficionado”. Maverick ****
Tim Van Eyken Band, (Barleycorn)
Van Eyken perform 'Australia' at Shrewbury Folk Fest
Barleycorn
Fair Ellen of Ratcliffe
