Broom Bezzums: Shammick Acoustic

Event information

It’s rare that anyone is booked at Shammick Acoustic without any of the powers that be having heard them live, but in this case an exception was made, when someone handed them a CD. Two lead singers, two multi-instrumentalists bringing to the stage fiddle, guitars, mandola, Northumbrian pipes and bass drum, topped off with soaring vocal harmonies. Andrew Cadie and Mark Bloomer seem to strike a keen balance between authentic traditional music and the creative freedom of the current songwriter/Nu-folk wave. Their credentials are certainly impressive, with Andrew having been taught fiddle and pipes by the exceptionally talented Kathryn Tickell, and Mark having perfected his guitar skills over years of regular session whilst living in Ireland. Now based in Germany, the young duo have become one of the most prominent acts in the folk scene there, and edging into the mainstream while staying true to their roots, are attracting an ever-wider audience. Their talent caught the attention of Show of Hands who have asked them to undertake support on two of their tours. Their publicity material says, “Broom Bezzums is a unique, powerful live acoustic duo [with a] striking stage presence.” We shall see, but there seem to be few doubts.