Folk album review: Betse Ellis - Don't You Want To Go?

Published on Friday 3 July 2009 16:24

BETSE ELLIS Don't You Want To Go? **** Free Dirt Records DIRTCD0058, £12.72

From country waltz to Ozark mountain hoedown, Betse Ellis is no slouch on the fiddle. If the chamber piece 'La Cinquantaine' shows off her classical violin training, then it's the only time it happens on the album. She gives us unusual settings of old trad songs like John Henry and sings some blues, courtesy of a couple of sly songs by the long gone Memphis Minnie. Ellis even accompanies herself on the rare four-string tenor guitar. Recorded live in the studio with bandmates from The Wilders and her other outfit Dangerhand, the album has an authentic feel of rural America and a joyful interplay with the other musicians.

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