Charlie Ansell profile picture

Charlie Ansell

About Me

Welcome to my myspace.
For whatever reason it is you have stumbled across my page I expect you'll want to know something about me.
Well I used to be in a Dirty Rock'n'Roll band called Templar but now I'm a folk singer.
Now please don't let that word put you off! I don't go around with my finger in my ear, singing endless verses about crop failure.
What I do is take old British folk songs and put them in a way which I feel relates better to Modern Britain, done in a musical style similar to Frank Turner and Billy Bragg (PunkFolk!)
I am doing this because I feel a large chunk of our island's culture and stories have been lost in the last 50 years. And as we embrace a new multi-cultural Britain I believe we all, no matter of what origin, should have more understanding of where we come from and who we are!
You may agree with me, you may not, but I'm going to give this a go because I believe the way to a successful tolerant future relies on a firm understanding of our past.

Some songs I do on my own, some I do with a band, some I re-write verses to add a modern persepctive. I also do my own original songs to get off my chest personal bugbears and grievances.
I will put the lyrics and explanations of my songs in the blogs section just in case anyone wants to know that sort of thing.
Let me know what you think.
Charlie x
[email protected]
VIDEOS:
PEGGY AND THE SOLDIER
(Traditional / Charlie Ansell)

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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 06/10/2007
Band Website: You’re Here
Band Members: Charlie Ansell - Vocals, Guitar

With help recording from:
Freddie Ansell - Guitar, Piano, Producer, Engineer

Occasionally some help from my friends:
RubySinnFury

Also:
Aidan Sinn, Aedan Jenner, Mat Taylor and Harry Avis
Influences: Many Many....from the mists of time to modern day....
Richard Thompson
The Sex Pistols
Slade
The Levellers
Jack Cade
John Ball

Sounds Like:
WHAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID:

"Jamie T meets The Levellers" - Martin Leay's mate, quoted by BBC Radio Bristol, (March & October 2008)

"He spits and snarls out political folk pop rants in the best tradition of bar rooms around the British Isles" - Songsmith, (May 2008)

"Over didactic...Bristol's answer to Billy Bragg or Shane MacGowan....." - Venue Magazine (Bristol/Bath), (January 2008)

"Devon based folk-ster Charlie Ansell evokes story-telling sea shanty tales with songs such as 'Lisbon' and has just recorded a session for local BBC Radio Bristol... which is near America" - The Lock Tavern, Camden's promo write up for me in their own mag (October 2008). Haven't got a clue what they're on about, and I've never done a session for BBC Radio Bristol, but would like to someday, wink!

and my favourite, from my old mates at Acoustic Night:

"Charlie Ansell became the night's third distinctive guitarist with his now familiar mix of old folk songs and up-to-date punk sensibilities. 'Jim Jones' was a song of transportation to Australia: sung in the first person, it oozed rebellion and lack of remorse. "Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire" detailed the different experiences of Officers and men in the First World War and it's jolly tune failed dismally to hide the social commentary and the contempt the ranks had for their 'superiors' ('If you want to find the Sargeant I know where he his, Drinking all the company rum'). You know what you will get from Charlie and you can be pretty sure you'll like it!" (November 2008)

ALSO CHECK OUT OF MY FRIENDS/LEGENDS:
RubySinnFury
Chop Chop Bear Touch
Freddie Ansell
MLP
The Great Escape
Badgertrap
Countryside
The Computers
(All are in my top friends)
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

Tribute to RubySinnFury

Tribute to RubySinnFurySome of you may of heard of a young band from Salcombe called RubySinnFury. Well unfortunately they have recently split up.So in tribute to their short but fun existence I have ...
Posted by on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:08:00 GMT

New Video - Peggy and the Soldier

Hello AllPlease check out a video of me playing Peggy and the Soldier.It's an old, traditional, British song that I've given my updating treatment to. Essentially it's an adultery song and about how t...
Posted by on Fri, 15 May 2009 11:28:00 GMT

Tune with RubySinnFury & Chop Chop Cover

Hello people.Hope you all had a good christmas and new year.I've been a busy little bee.Firstly I recorded a session with RubySinnFury, a quality Devon Punk band. We did a couple of tunes that are in ...
Posted by on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:13:00 GMT

GIGS NEEDED!! (Oct - Dec 2008)

Hello everyone.I wonder if anyone can help me with this one.I'm in need of gigs. I have one lined up between now and Christmas, and that is shocking!!!I've tried but been rebuffed from various angles....
Posted by on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:49:00 GMT

BBC Radio Bristol & Gig in a Shop!

Hey AllJust to keep you up to date with what's happening with me!!Last Saturday (11th) morning I was played on BBC Radio Bristol in the Introducing show!! Good stuff. They played Lisbon and as far as ...
Posted by on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:26:00 GMT

Lock Tavern - Change of Date

Lock Tavern - Change of DateThe Lock Tavern show is now on 12th November and not the 13th.Hope people can still attend!!Charlie xx
Posted by on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:44:00 GMT

Lisbon

When I discovered Lisbon it was a song about a man, William, who goes away to Sea with the Navy, looking for fun abroad, and writes to tell his girlfriend she is dumped, after he'd left! She then come...
Posted by on Thu, 29 May 2008 12:48:00 GMT

Barbara Allen

Barbara Allen is an old song with strong roots in the English, Scottish and American traditions. Mostly of late it has been done by American artists; The Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Art G...
Posted by on Wed, 14 May 2008 14:02:00 GMT

Cam Ye O’er Frae France

Cam Ye O'er Frae France is a 300 year old Jacobite song. It is quite a bawdy satire of George I whilst trying to compel exiled Jacobites to return to Britain to restore The Stuarts to ...
Posted by on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:51:00 GMT

I Was Told Folk Song Had Died

This is my song about the loss of Folk Traditions in Britain (and particularly England) and what my take on it is. On this track I got a little bit of help from my friends, so to speak. Aidan Si...
Posted by on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:01:00 GMT