Hearsay & Heresy

Talking Elephant are proud to announce the release of Mark and David’s second duo album.

The ten new songs are inspired by subjects as varied as getting caught in a storm in Glasgow, the Mancunian ploy to steal the sea from Liverpool by building the Ship Canal, asylum seekers besieged by rioters in a budget hotel, David Bowie and favourite bars in Manchester and Rome.

A few friends have contributed harmonica, fiddle and piano but at the heart lie the twin guitars and meticulous two-part harmony that the pair have become celebrated for at their frequent appearances up and down the country and even into Spain and Portugal. Inspirations for their signature sound come particularly from the very best exponents of two voices blending perfectly together such as Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Milk Carton Kids and of course Simon and Garfunkel and The Everly Brothers.

Mark has been a national broadcaster on the BBC for over three decades and currently hosts the Radio Two Folk Show and the 6music weekend breakfast show with Stuart Maconie. His latest book ‘Et tu, cavapoo’, the stories from his time living with his wife and dog in Rome, is published in August.

David is a renowned fine artist and has exhibited his distinctive modernist paintings in his native North East at Newcastle’s Biscuit Factory and at the Oxo Tower in London. He is also much in demand as a guitar teacher.

Mark and David met at The Rose and Crown in their hometown of Knutsford in Cheshire. This auspicious meeting is represented by a photograph of them playing cards at their favourite table in this fine hostelry. Apparently, David won though Mark makes dark allegations of chicanery.

Radcliffe and Boardman are available for interview and are represented for live appearances by Leila Cooper at Apex Music International.