Witch of the Westmoreland

Witch of the Westmoreland

Ravens, witches, ghosts and werewolves. Natural medicine, wiccan, alchemy and various surviving traces from our ancient animist past. Ballads, tragic laments and curious tales of magic and mystery. Mixtape of predominantly English & Scottish Folk music. Tribute to veteran & influencial Scots folksinger Archie Fisher who just passed away recently, in November 2025.

  

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We selected four Archie Fisher recordings from between 1976 & 2008, including the memorable title track Witch of the Westmoreland. First time on this blog for Scottish songbird superstar Barbara Dickson with three folk songs off her 1972 debut album From the Beggar's Mantle. Maggie Holland is a singer-songwriter and gritty performer from southern England. She sours over her electric guitar and banjo while bringing an altogether new feeling to the song Coshieville. Old time Scottish singer Norman Stewart was captured singing his own version of the song, which was his original composition. Highlighting Lal & Mike Waterson with 3 tracks from their classic Bright Phoebus LP 1972. Dave Burland does two great renditions of Ewan MacColl songs (live 1983). Ian Campbell does a tremendous adaption of I Loved a Lass. Brothers Robin & Barry Dransfield formed the promising folk rock outfit Dransfield in 1976 though they stayed together for only a few gigs and a single LP. Two breezy guitar airs from The Lady and the Unicorn (1970) by John Renbourne. Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple & Rainbow fame teamed up with his partner Candice Night in the early 1990's to create a form of medievel-style, sorcery & dragons folk rock, the Blackmore's Night band. Bob Pegg & Carolanne Pegg formed Mr Fox in the early 1970s. Bob further probes the darker side of life on two songs set in late-70's Leeds. Pete Seeger sings what is for me the definative cut of The Crow on the Cradle. Frankie Armstrong performs two old death ballads and Richard Thompson rips it up on the acoustic for The Ghost of You Walks. Gigspanner are Peter Knight's (occasional) touring band. Roy Harper comes up with a real cracker, the bluesy Hallucinating Light and Spooky Tooth cameo with a gallows song while Jethro Tull get in folky mode for Witch's Promise. Cool and deep vibes from Elvis Costello and Joan Armatrading. Enjoy some magic...

Continuous mix 3hrs

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If you enjoy the music on our mixtapes and become familiar with the featured artists please do go out & support them directly on their own platforms. Thanks to all Keeping the folk music tradition alive...  

John William Waterhouse Magic Circle