Essex instrumentalists Mawkin and BBC Radio 2 horizon nominee Jim Causley have formed to create one hell of a boyband! Both components of the Mawkin:Causley collaboration have their own well-founded claims to success. BBC Radio 2 have acknowledged both Mawkin’s guitarist David Delarre and Jim Causley as variously a Young Folk Award finalist and a Horizon Award nominee, whilst reviewers have consistently celebrated Mawkin’s and Causley’s considerable achievements. Essex boys Mawkin have played over fifty festivals in the past four years, perfecting their live performances whilst amassing an incredibly dedicated following. The combination of punchy melodeon, driving violin, earthy guitar and solid bass is showcased beautifully within the band’s 2006 debut album ‘The Fair Essex’, which MOJO’s Colin Irwin has described as ‘unconditionally mighty’. Meanwhile Jim Causley’s richly bittersweet tones have been widely recognised as sensitive, hypnotic and fiercely traditional. Stirrings Magazine’s Raymond Greenoake has claimed that Causley is ‘a man to watch’, which is true both in metaphorical and literal terms as a result of Causley’s rousing stage presence. Luckily, Causley’s intelligently charming debut, ‘Fruits Of The Earth’, parallels his spellbinding live performances, which will leave Mawkin:Causley fans eagerly anticipating a collaborative album. Now with the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nomination for “Best Group” behind them and an album pencilled in for April 2009 it should be an exciting year for the collaboration.
