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Spencer singing strong lead in a much lower range than her original coloratura, with Jacey's softer voice providing a lighter (usually higher) harmony and Brian's voice often being used at the top end of his bass-baritone range so that Hilary and Brian's voices were fairly close together in range, 'glued' together by Jacey's.
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Artisan's early repertoire was a mixture of traditional and contemporary songs, all performed a cappella (i.e., without instruments) and in three-part close harmony, broadly within the folk genre, though with a cappella versions of some pop standards included. Their trademark sound was developed with
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In 2010, Artisan came together again for a short, limited date reunion tour to venues and festivals in the UK and Canada. They did a further reunion tour in 2015, but only to venues and festivals in the UK. In 2016 they played a couple of festivals. Then in 2019 they played a fundraising concert for
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They built a strong fan base, both in the UK and North
America. Artisan performed a few traditional folk songs, and songs written by other songwriters; however the majority of their work was penned by Brian Bedford (not to be confused with the actor Brian Bedford). One of their most popular songs
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After five years of performing at UK folk clubs part-time, Artisan went full-time in July 1989 when trio members gave up their day jobs. After that their first
European work followed (Belgium, Okapi Folk Festival, Lokeren, and Bokregdag, 1990). In 1994, came their first transatlantic tour to Canada
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Motor
Neurone Disease at a local venue, The Pie Hall in Denby Dale, West Yorkshire. They agreed to do a repeat performance in the Autumn of 2020, which was cancelled on account of the Covid lockdown. At the time of writing their next MND fundraiser is at the Pie Hall on 6 November 2021.
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is, "What's the Use of Wings", written by Brian, about the need to "let go" of loved ones, and give them the freedom to make their own decisions. It has been covered by artists and groups including the late
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Artisan concerts were always lively, known for their audience participation, particularly their
Christmas concerts ("Stuff the Turkey"), which had a
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Artisan formed in 1984 when Jacey and Brian
Bedford invited Hilary Spencer to sing with them at a concert at Birdsedge Village Hall near
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In the next ten years there were thirty tours to the US and Canada playing venues and major festivals including:
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at the
Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) for the song "Lest We Forget", from the
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In 1998 they won the "Best Folk Song" award, at the CARAs, for the song "Mabel" from the
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album. In 1999 they were nominated for the "Best
Holiday Album" award at the CARAs, for
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As of 2021, Hilary
Spencer is half of QuickSilver with Grant Baynham. Brian runs the
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431:(2006) (This is a recording of Artisan's last concert on 20 November 2005)
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ed Neal
Walters & Brian Mansfield. Published 1998 Visible Ink Press,
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Concert footage from the
Kennedy Center Washington DC, December 2003
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In 1997 they were nominated for the "Best Folk Song" award by the
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feel to them. The group stopped touring in 2005, with two final
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Brian Bedford, his wife Jacey Bedford, and Hilary Spencer.
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held on 20 November 2005, recorded and available on DVD.
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There was also one tour to Australia in 2000 to play the
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632:Music Hound Folk – The Essential Album Guide
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108:Learn how and when to remove this message
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202:trio from Yorkshire, England, who sang
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206:from 1985 to 2005. They consisted of
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243:Vancouver Folk Music Festival
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607:"CARA Winners For 2001"
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149:Years active
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422:Random Play
338:Discography
278:John Wright
274:Vin Garbutt
469:References
331:Mexborough
208:songwriter
204:a cappella
68:newspapers
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276:the late
153:1984–2005
98:July 2011
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510:Archived
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293:concerts
249:and the
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569:15 June
492:15 June
214:History
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196:Artisan
178:Website
162:Members
133:England
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