Regular visitors to this website know that Merry Hell rank amongst my favourite acts. Born from the embers of folk punk collective, The Tansads, they have over the past twelve years, or so, through dint of sheer hard gigging and recording work, built up a dedicated and loyal following.
From the cotton mills of Wigan to the glassworks of Stourbridge, Merry Hell cherish a distinguished English heritage wrapped in a progressive blanket of unity, while expunging differences at every opportune moment.
To mark their path to date and to afford newcomers a useful introduction, this compilation gathers recordings from across their career, none tweaked in the process and, while the live version of The Baker's Daughter/Soldier's Joy only previously appeared on their DVD, there's none of that previously unreleased/new recording malarkey.
Raise your teacups and glasses! A comprehensive Merry Hell retrospective that sends out a glut of their trademark messages of positivity.
All in all this is a real feelgood CD, as well as charting the twelve years since Merry Hell first hit the consciousness of music lovers. Folk rock is viewed in different ways by many people but if you listen to this album, like me, you will come to the conclusion that it only enhances this branch of the folk genre.
After 12 years, 6 albums and hundreds of gigs English Folk-Rock Band, Merry Hell, have taken a little time to look back on all that has passed. The result of this reflection is a 28 track, double CD covering tracks from all their releases, a history of the band if you like, or maybe an introduction for those who have recently climbed aboard their unstoppable folk-rock charabanc of joy.
Recently released Merry Hell’s Let The Music Speak For Itself is a retrospective look at the band’s back catalogue in a double CD and digital release which gives the avid fan and also the newcomer to Merry Hell’s music a superb look into what Merry Hell are all about.
Let The Music Speak For Itself, is a weighty collection of the ’story so far’ from this band’s six album back catalogue. The 28 tracks were democratically compiled by fans and friends, and have been grouped thematically rather than chronologically; thus achieving the band’s stated aim of replicating the dynamics of a live performance.
Joyous anthology of songs from Wigan collective. Unashamed pleasure for the senses in these difficult times.
Joyous anthology of songs from Wigan collective. Unashamed pleasure for the senses in these difficult times.
The heavens may not always be quite so forgiving over humble Wigan, Lancashire, at the best of times, but, as far as Merry Hell are concerned, that sun is always there shining brightly inside one’s hearts and minds! And thousands of fans enraptured by their shows and songs will be in full agreement with that.
Merry Hell give so much, many have discovered that over the last twelve years, if you haven’t… you’re missing out. It’s that simple. I’ll just tell you this is essential and besides that it’s good for you. Should be available on the NHS.
Whether you’re a long-term follower of Merry Hell or just discovering them for the first time at a festival this summer, Let The Music Speak For Itself is a strong compilation which is sure to find favour with fans both new and old.
Whether you are a die hard fan or a total newcomer, lovers of great folk rock music will be leaping off their sofas with excitement for on the 12th of May, after twelve years and six albums, the Wigan based eight piece band Merry Hell are to release a 28 track double CD on their own independent Merry Hell Music label covering the history of their incredible musical journey.
Merry Hell’s Winter tour hits the road after a stunningly successful summer. In the quaint village of Croston, they deliver a brilliant performance within the intimate surroundings of The Old School House.
The inaugural MerryMeet, a Liverpool Acoustic event, was held on 22nd April 2023, at the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room and the nearby Casa Bar. Some might question the band’s sanity for agreeing to perform two full-length shows and a mini-gig/fan forum in between, but those people clearly haven’t witnessed the boundless energy that Merry Hell bring to each and every one of their performances.
2 x sets best described as a rollercoaster ride through some of the finest contemporary folk music currently being performed anywhere on the English folk festival.
WONDERFULLY AMAZINGLY FABULOUS NEWS!!! Thanks to all at Blues and Roots Radio for making ‘Let The Music Speak For Itself’ their WORLDWIDE Album of the Year!!
The inaugural MerryMeet was held on 22nd April 2023, at the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room and the nearby Casa Bar. Some might question the band’s sanity for agreeing to perform two full-length shows and a mini-gig/fan forum in between, but those people clearly haven’t witnessed the boundless energy that Merry Hell bring to each and every one of their performances.
Merry Hell had certainly made a very favourable impression, with more than one audience member commenting on just how much they were enjoying the performance.
I’m coming round to the view that I actually prefer the acoustic line-up of Merry Hell. This is no criticism of Allan Jones but an appreciation of the fact that they approach things differently in the acoustic framework. They don’t just play the same way but without drums. Lee Goulding’s keyboards and Neil McCartney’s fiddle get more space to work and play a more important role in the live sound.
"The times they are a changin'" ... indeed they may be, but one constant remains, Merry Hell can be relied upon to bring a sense of reason, reflection, rationality and humour to the world through their infectious music. 'Emergency Lullabies', their latest magnificent release, delivers messages of togetherness, understanding, but above all hope, to the uncertain times in which we find ourselves.
I’m told that Merry Hell are something of a crowd-puller and listening to this album has certainly had me question how come I have never had the pleasure of seeing them. And now I really want to, imagining the scene, maybe a beer or two down, summer sun dipping down behind the main stage, these songs, that attitude. I cannot fail to see how any audience could resist.
Singer songwriter Paul Johnson gets some ‘Emergency Lullabies’ when he talks to the band Merry Hell about the release of their fantastic new album from his Mystic Marsh recording studios on the wild Kent coast…
Wigan folk-rockers Merry Hell – recent winners of the Best Live Band title from folking.com – are one of the hardest working bands in the business. Based around the core of the Kettle family they’re not letting anything get in the way of their music-making. Following 2019’s A Year In The Life film documentary, they’ve just set the 2020 ball rolling with a trio of single releases.
The full electric eight piece Merry Hell – there are also stripped back acoustic and acousitic-ish versions trooped on for their first gig of the year and first in seven weeks. No real hint of rustiness to these ears in their jamboree filled set.
A Sunday matinée show at the Half Moon, Putney is no longer a novelty for Merry Hell, as they made a welcome return for another packed appearance at this iconic venue. And what a triumphant return it was.
Merry Hell arrived at The David Hall, South Petherton after having played at The Great British Folk Festival in Skegness (read Colin Irwin’s report here). It certainly wouldn’t be unreasonable to have to excuse them for being a bit jaded after nearly 270 miles of travelling. After all, the previous evening they had been playing to a crowd of a couple of thousand and here they are in a village in Somerset with another long journey ahead of them the next day. But you would be seriously misjudging the band as they are polite and absolutely up for the gig. They prove this by delivering to the crowd a joyous, engaging and wonderful evening.
Having seen FATEA favourites Merry Hell on many occasions in the past, in both their full and six-member formats, at both festivals and other types of venue, I am more than aware of their unfailing and unerring capacity to deliver high energy, effervescent and scintillating performances which also reflect genuine messages of hope in unity. It has to be said, however, that these have almost exclusively been performances north of Watford Gap.
Anthems To The Wind is the fifth album from Merry Hell and its title is both a big reveal and a red herring. For this is not a song selection thematically based on hurricanes and siroccos despite there being a gentle breeze sweeping through every song.
On first listening, Anthems To The Wind sounded like an instant corker. Several plays later, a more considered opinion confirms that it is, indeed, destined to be one of the releases of the year.
Anthems To The Wind finds the band in unplugged mode – one they’re very familiar with to be frank – but no less passionate nor vibrant. The Kettle led band have added Neil McCartney’s fiddle to the mix since many of these songs were recorded and it’s that added potency and energy that is celebrated here. Inspired, if that’s the right word, by what they call “the atmospheric hush” of the folk clubs the arrangements have been stripped back, yet recording much of the album with the band playing live makes sure that their zeal and ardour shines through.
Merry Hell have got to be the best live band in the country. I realise that this is a bold statement but why else would FATEA have chosen them to headline the magazine’s 30th Birthday Bash in November?
On the cusp of the release of their new single Merry Hell took Darwen by storm, enthusiastic, exciting and entertaining, the full eight piece band brought their own brand of polished Folk Rock to the Lancashire town.
Since rising phoenix-like from the ashes of 90s folk-punk band The Tansads, initially through a series of reunion concerts in 2010 under a new moniker taken from the Tansads' song Separate Souls, Merry Hell have been blazing an exuberantly joyful trail.
In these strange and difficult insular times, when division is derigueur, when strangers are scorned, when immigrants attract infamy; There's a need for coming together, for joining for being as one, being all-inclusive and what better way than through music.
Billed as the new National Anthem, Come On England is lifted from Merry Hell’s outstanding current album Bloodlines. While the title might sound like a Sham 69 football terrace chant, it was written by Mery Hell’s Bob Kettle.
An alternative national anthem – and boy do we need something – Come On England! is a little collection of cheer and hope in troubled times.
Wickham festival is one of those lovely relaxed mid-size festivals that always seems to put together a varied and eclectic lineup. Alan Ewart went along to check out this years offerings.
"Bloodlines" is Merry Hell's fourth album release in five years, a most impressive output by any standards, but especially so when you consider the quality of their work and the fact that all of their material comes from within the band. Indeed, they are blessed with an abundance of songwriting talent in the form of three members of the Kettle family, Virginia, John and Bob. This latest album also features excellent writing contributions from fiddler extraordinaire Neil McCartney and keyboard player Lee Goulding.
Merry Hell, emerging from the ashes of The Tansads, deliver an energetic blend of folk rock from the North West. Now into their fourth album, their enthusiastic identity is once again captured on ‘Bloodlines’.
I’ll stick my neck out and say that Wigan-based band Merry Hell just has to be a prime contender for the accolade of the nation’s premier folk-rock band at the moment (pace Oysterband/Fairport/Steeleye fans!). It rose out of the barely-cooling ashes of 90s folk-punkers Tansads around six years ago, after a series of serendipitous right-place-right-time Tansads reunion concerts.
If you have never had the pleasure of seeing Merry Hell play live, do not despair as you can now enjoy seeing this most exciting and entertaining band in the comfort of your own home [or anywhere else, for that matter] thanks to a great new DVD titled "A Grand Night Out". The "Grand" refers to the venue for the concert ,this being The Grand Arts Centre in Clitheroe , Lancashire , in the shadow of Pendle Hill ,which is, of course, famous for its association with witchcraft.
Legend has it that Merry Hell got their record deal on the back of a discarded demo CD, picked up off the floor after a folk conference. Credit for that goes to Steve Heap and The Ghost In Our House And Other Stories is the third full length album to be released on the deal struck on the back of that fortuitous find, Steve’s car CD player, a quick phone call and meeting doing the rest.
"The Ghost In Our House and Other Stories" is the third and latest album by that wonderful Wigan-based band, Merry Hell [the previous two being "Blink…and you miss it" and "Head Full Of Magic, Shoes Full Of Rain"].
Merry Hell want all you disenchanted, downtrodden hordes. They want to wrap their collective arms around you without any promise to make it better or easy. They won’t make you richer, they can’t guarantee justice but what they can guarantee you is a warm heart and a song or two that will never leave your head or your lips. And sometimes, that’s all that you need.
The rise of Merry Hell has been nothing short of extraordinary. Founded in late 2010 from the ashes of another Wigan-based band, The Tansads, they have flourished in four short years to become one of Britain’s most well respected and in demand folk groups.
"Sunshine On A Rainy Day" was the title of Zoe's 1991 hit single. It is also an apt description for tonight's events put on by Liverpool Acoustic in the congenial surroundings of the View 2 Gallery. Outside the raining was teeming down and even the Mathew Street buskers had taken shelter but inside the Gallery the audience basked in the warm glow of some fantastic music from the ever-wonderful Merry Hell.
Grateful Fred rounded off a memorable 2014 with a fabulous end of term Christmas Bash featuring the marvellous Merry Hell Acoustic, ably supported by local heroes The Big I Am.
Second Album Syndrome is often cited as a cruel trick played on the creative will of those following up a near perfect debut release, brought upon not by the exposure of a talent punching above its weight, but by the pressures of expectation. The musical equivalent of erectile dysfunction if you will.
Good quality lyrics combined with music to match is the bread and butter of the music industry. It is however always nice to see when a band gets this balance right and as a result produces great music.
Merry Hell is a brilliant seven-piece outfit that took its musical cues from the mighty Tansads, not only including six of that cult combo's members but maintaining continuity while attaining a separate identity - not an easy thing to pull off, but their debut CD Blink… And You Miss It, released a little over a year ago, was both a triumphant debut and a resounding success, and emphatically not just a one-off flash-in-the-pan, as its followup now defiantly proves.
Merry Hell have just released their much-acclaimed second album "Head Full Of Magic,Shoes Full Of Rain", a most worthy successor to their excellent debut "Blink. ..and you'll miss it". Through the good offices of their manager, Damian, I caught up with Merry Hell at Chester Folk Festival at the Lord Binning pub at Kelsall near Chester.
Folk-rock outfit Merry Hell made a triumphant return to the Citadel, St.Helens, scene of their launch gig eighteen months previously during which time they have established themselves as one of the best must-see live acts on the country wide circuit.
Many of you will be aware of the current and ongoing Celtic Connections Festival 2012, a two week celebration of Celtic inspired music hosted at a selection of venues across Glasgow ”’ However a cursory glance at the list of performers suggests that the organisers are somewhat adverse to bands with a little bit of an edge; as such we will introduce to you” Merry Hell.
Merry Hell in very short time have successfully earned themselves an enviable reputation for high energy gigs, anthemic songs and politically charged questioning lyrics ”’ the challenge was always to capture that energy, that vitality on record; ”BLINK”¦ And You Miss It’ suggests them have done just that.
Guitar riffs, shouty singable anthems…what more could you ask for on a trip down memory lane? And more importantly, does this form of song stand any chance in the ‘yoof’ led charts of our younger generation. I for one seriously hope so as Merry Hell could possibly strike a blow for those of us sick to death of the gutless teary eyed wonders that feel an appearance on the X-Factor will secure them a place in rock history.