Cornish based folkie ready for second album
Hailing from the wild northern shores of Cornwall, Winter Mountain is a blend of melodic songs, an extraordinary voice and heartfelt lyrics in a sound reminiscent of a time before digital recording, when the emphasis fell on the importance of live performance and the essence of the song.
Winter Mountain began life as a musical collaboration between two songwriters, Cornwall’s Joe Francis and Donegal’s Marty Smyth, after they met on a train, heading southbound from Chicago to Memphis. Whether a chance meeting or an act of fate, the conversation that followed revealed their mutual love for vocal harmony, as well as the classic songs and sounds of the Sixties, highlighting a feeling both were searching for something in life not of their era. Soon writing songs together, the quality of the songs, and their abilities as performers inspired folk star Cara Dillon and husband/producer Sam Lakeman to sign Winter Mountain to their Charcoal Records label, releasing their self titled debut album in 2013 to wide critical acclaim and extensive airplay, and subsequently signing with the prestigious Faber Music Publishing.
However, despite a growing fanbase and the industry attention they were garnering, fate had different ideas and after years honing their craft on the road and in the studio, Marty announced he was leaving the duo. Though shaken by his musical partner’s departure, Joe kept the creative flame alight by moving between Ireland, his Cornwall home and a stark but beautiful winter in the French Alps, writing as he went. Joe returned to the public arena in 2016 with supports for Elbow frontman Guy Garvey, The Feeling and pop legend Seal.
Winter Mountain has toured the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland opening for some of the world’s most talented and high profile artists including Seth Lakeman, Cara Dillon, Ocean Colour Scene, Reef, Richard Thompson, Rosanne Cash, LeAnn Rimes, Patty Griffin, Benny Gallagher, Paolo Nutini, Fleet Foxes and many others.
www.facebook.com/wintermountain
www.twitter.com/winter_mountain
