Fay Hield's earthy approach to singing and her haunting and powerful delivery uniquely appeal to both older and younger audiences and it wasn't long before Topic Records, Europe's oldest and most respected Independent Record Label, approached her with a view to signing her as their first new artist in 20 years. Raised in the singing community of the West Yorkshire Pennines, Fay's childhood was as much influenced by the bare essentials of the West Yorkshire landscape as the lively, warm music scene surrounding the Famous Bacca Pipes Folk Club in Keighley. Her debut solo CD, 'Looking Glass' was released to a fanfare of music media praise and brought her a nomination for the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2011. She has guested on the latest CDs by Martin Simpson and Spiers & Boden and is described as "...a real singer... in an age of honey throated whimpering" fRoots and "Unadorned - and quite exquisite... Hield is a rare talent" Uncut

• Folk