Anglo-Irish Bluegrass Five-Piece Midnight Skyracer Debut On Island

Island Records’ new signings Midnight Skyracer, the first bluegrass act ever to sign to a major UK label, have released their first single under the deal, ‘Break The Rules.’ The track by the the Anglo-Irish female quintet precedes the album Shadows On the Moon, to be released on 5 June. The follow-up to 2018’s Fire, it was made at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Wiltshire.

Midnight Skyracer, formed in 2017, have made their name on the UK festival circuit and throughout Europe and Australasia. They’re headed by Laura and Charlotte Carrivick, the south Devon twins who have recorded six albums as the Carrivick Sisters and continue to perform under that name.

Fiddle and dobro player Laura Carrivick says: “This is huge news for us. We started doing this because we all love bluegrass so much and it’s a lot of fun to play. Then it turned out we weren’t the only people who liked it!” The group’s sound combines hard-driving bluegrass, mountain balladeering and their powerful harmonies, recognising the American origins of the genre but with an edge of their own.

Photo: Elly Lucas

Along with sister Charlotte on guitar, Laura is joined by Leanne Thorose on mandolin and vocals, Tabitha Benedict (banjo, vocals) and Eleanor Wilkie (double bass). Midnight Skyracer are already confirmed for six UK festivals this year, including Black Deer, Ely Folk and Dartmoor Folk.

“We love all this talk about greater female representation at festivals and award shows,” says Laura, “and we want to be a massive part of that, but we also have no interest in being the token female act to up the quota. It has to be about being the best and earning your place at those events. We are so thrilled that we are now part of Island Records and can share our music with the widest audience yet.”

Midnight Skyracer’s Shadows On The Moon album is released on 5 June. Pre-order it here.

Format: UK English