This is a song about what really matters in life...the little things. it features Sharon Martin on vocals and Tom Chapman on guitar and vocals. A recent reviewer described it as "the kind of song that will blow you away and would be perfect for one of those happy life montage scenes". it is taken from our debut album Under the Sky. 

LAZIBYRD - The little things

This months POWA Artist is Somerset based, award winning singer songwriter Sharon Lazibyrd. 

Influenced by her experiences, musicals, music hall and everything from Julian Cope to English folk, Sharon writes striking and melodic songs and makes music that matters. Her debut solo album, Half Shame and Half Glory, was critically acclaimed and played across independent and community radio, BBC folk and acoustic shows, BBC Introducing and on BBC 6 Music. She was BBC Introducing Artist of the week in 2018. She has performed across the UK and in Ireland including Glastonbury and Tolpuddle and as half of the duo Lazibyrd winning the South West Music Awards Best Folk Act of 2013.

“This song started life as a writing prompt I tried out in the Sunday Songwriting Facebook group run by songwriter and producer Rosie Bans. The task that week was to write something about the year of your birth. I was born in 1970 so I looked to see what events were important for women that year, as that was something I thought would be interesting to write about. I came across the Leeds textile workers strike, which I hadn't known about beforehand, which was actually one of the precursors to the Equal Pay Act. I started to read news stories and archive material about the strike and this inspired the lyrics. For example, the first line, ‘angry women shook a city’, came from a newspaper headline. As I was writing the song I also started to reflect on my own experience as a woman and the inequalities that persist, such as the gender pay gap, so I included references to some of them as well.”

Angry Women

As played on the BBC Introducing Mixtape on BBC radio 6. What time is later? is a song that considers the meaning of time and its passing, it was inspired by Sharon’s daughter asking her the question at Purbeck Folk Festival “This question as well as being a great line was thought provoking and the rest of the song seemed to flow quite naturally from that starting point, what does ‘later’ really mean?” said Sharon. 
What time is later? features Sharon on vocals and ukulele and she is joined by some very talented friends who orchestrate the song with piano, accordion, violin and backing vocals.  Damon and Kate Bridge who are also based in Somerset and perform with Owl in the Sun. Sharon is currently recording her keenly anticipated debut solo album, Half Shame and Half Glory, at Orchard Studios in Somerset and it will be released in spring 2017.

What Time Is Later?

"I love her gorgeous folk" Chris Hawkins BBC 6 Music
"A voice that can really deliver the core of the narrative” Neil King FATEA magazine
"A blissful piece of folk pop"  Jason Ritchie This song by BBC Introducing artist Sharon Lazibyrd arose from a conversation that led to a reflection on our needs, wants and delusions. Opium of the Masses addresses some current and universal themes. It features Damon and Kate Bridge (Owl in the Sun) alongside Tom Cory (Bare Knuckle Parade).

Opium Of The Masses

Jan 2018 interview and live tracks broadcast across the nation on BBC Georgey Tonight. I was BBC Introducing Artist of the Week on her show supported by BBC Introducing in the West.

BBC Introducing Artist of the Week- Sharon Lazibyrd Interview and Live Tracks

Blood on bone is a hauntingly beautiful song that touches on mortality. It has a sparse and atmospheric soundscape featuring Sharon on vocals and viola, Damian Clarke (Pressgang) on the hammered dulcimer, Damon Bridge on the piano and Tom Cory on bass. “This song means a lot to me and I am really pleased with how it sounds” said Sharon. The song was produced by Sharon and Charlotte Worthy-Jarvis, recorded at Orchard Recording Studios near Glastonbury, mastered by Steve Kitsch at Audiomaster and it is the latest single to be released from her forthcoming album Half Shame and Half Glory which is released on 8th June. It follows on successful releases that have been played by BBC Introducing and BBC 6 Music. 
Lyrics
Blood on bone
Blood on bone we’re not alone
Stay with me tonight
Blood on bone 
we’re not alone help me through the night
And I feel light and I feel bright
And I feel tonight 
Stars and dust the wheel that rusts
Stay with me tonight
A one-way track, no turning back
The road leads out of sight
Blood on bone not far from home
You make me feel alright
Blood on bone we’re not alone stay with me tonight
Blood on bone we’re not alone you make me feel alright
Track credits 
Sharon Lazibyrd vocals and viola
Damian Clarke hammered dulcimer
Damon Bridge piano
Tom Cory bass
Recorded and mixed at Orchard Studios Barton St David by Charlotte Worthy Jarvis
Produced by Sharon Lazibyrd and Charlotte Worthy Jarvis

Blood On Bone

Half Shame and Half Glory is the title track from Sharon Lazibyrd's forthcoming debut album which is released on 8th June. It features Sharon on vocals violins and viola, with Damon Bridge on piano. 
The song was inspired by a quote from Sir John Gielgud the actor about acting. It is song that captures some of the ambiguities of performance and comments on the unexpected turns in life's journey. I often finish my live sets with this song and I really happy to have a record that I am proud of.

Sharon will be launching the album on 16th June at Kingsbury Community Centre in Somerset and she will be touring the album in June. 
Forthcoming gigs include
7th May Kingsbury May Festival
27th May The Ritz Burnham
15th June Kilmington Devon
16th June Album launch Kingsbury
17th June Isle of Wight
23rd June Midsomer Arts festival
25th August Watchet festival
9th September Yeovil ukelele festival
15th September Priston festival

Half Shame and Half Glory

"a long time favourite " Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music
"This girl is on fire 4****" RnR magazine
"shades of Kirsty MacColl" Froots magazine
"Fans of Sleaford-like agitprop-protest songs raging against British business – to the sound of folk fiddle – will bloody love the new track @SharonLazibyrd " Jude Rogers The Guardian   

More for less is an overtly political song which comments on austerity, and demonstrates that folk protest songs are very much alive and kicking. “I am very proud of this song and really pleased with the arrangement” said Sharon. More for Less was voted a coveted Fresh Fave and has been played by Tom Robinson on his show who described it as “an object lesson in sparse understated arrangement…. (and) crackling with energy” as well as on the BBC Introducing Mixtape and by BBC Introducing in the West. It has been attracting attention and critical acclaim so it is now to be released as a single. It features Sharon herself and Kate Bridge on vocals, pizzicato and bowed violins, Tom Cory on bass and Damon Bridge on accordion, percussion and radiator. This song is from her acclaimed debut album Half Shame and Half Glory.

More for Less
Now listen to my story it’s sad but it is true
There’s people out there telling you you’ve got more work to do
There’s fat that can be trimmed off if you think in skies of blue
But the truth is you can only do as much as you can do

You can’t do more for less without some consequence
The rich get more for less what happens to the rest
It’s time that we confess there is no more for less
You can’t do more for less it’s just a bloody mess

Your political whitewash is making me feel quite cross
These myths about the worker who doesn’t give a toss
Who lives the life of riley who never breaks a sweat
Who doesn’t have to work hard well I’ve never met her yet

You can’t do more for less without some consequence
The rich get more for less what happens to the rest
It’s time that we confess there is no more for less
You can’t do more for less it’s just a bloody mess

You can’t make two and two make five
You can’t make wrong things right
So if you do your sums you see why we have to stand and fight
Those that are being butchered don’t  get to hold the knife
But there are things we believe in for which we have to strive

You can’t do more for less without some consequence
The rich get more for less what happens to the rest
It’s time that we confess there is no more for less
You can’t do more for less it’s time for truthfulness

More For Less

Written and performed by Sharon Lazibyrd, recorded live in my kitchen with a violin overdub. A song with non English words, a task I set for Sunday Songwriting. Commentary on where we are today. When I see the world, I think, what is this? 

In our world what's going on
Tear gas on the streets
Leaders who are lying to us
Intimidation feats

Quand je vue le monde
Quand je vue le monde
Je pense
Qu'est-ce que c'est?

What will be the new normal
Is this pride before a fall
Are we driven to test our sight
To find out what's wrong from right

In our world what's going wrong
Fake news and trite tweets
Crisis and mismanagement
Nationalism heats

What will be our rally call
Are our eyes right off the ball
Can we unite what us divides
Stem the fears we keep inside

Quand je vue le monde
Quand je vue le monde
Je pense
Qu'est-ce que c'est?

Quand Je Vue Le Monde

This is a song for the last Sunday songwriting. The year is 1970 and I found out about the strike by women textile workers in Leeds which inspired this song. 

Angry women shook a city
Struck for parity not pity
You're not a worker you're a pair of hands
Not the breadwinner, you couldn't understand
Still they took a stand
They took a stand

Year of silence and frustration
Keeping mum and knowing your station
They came to an end upon the day
They asked for another shillings pay
Their actions paved the way
Actions paved the way

Angry women closed the factories
By the fourth week they were on their knees
Though the unions didn't support their plight
30,000 they stood up for what was right
We owe them their foresight
Their foresight

Now this story isn't ending
There are messages need sending
The pay gap's still reality
Whose more likely to be cooking tea
Our actions set hopes free
Actions set hopes free

Angry women shook a city
Struck for parity not pity
Angry women we still need 
To fight for all equalities
Be the change you want to see
The change you want to see

1970 Actions Set Hopes Free

This is an anthem for out times and our government. This song was written as part of a songwriting challenge where the aim was to write 20 songs in a day, I managed 15. This was recorded at home and mixed in my bedroom during lockdown in January 2021.

Little Britain

"Lazibyrd  have shown that they have all the necessary ingredients to take it to the next level and are definitely one to watch" FRUK
Award winning duo Lazibyrd are Sharon Martin and Tom Chapman. Lazibyrd are 'steeped in the music is life, life is music tradition' and produce beautifully arranged songs with gorgeous harmonies. Their songs touch on love, loss and protest and make expert use of voices, guitar, violin, viola and ukelele. They play original English folk music to make you feel and think. Their debut album Under the Sky has been critically acclaimed and received extensive radio airplay on over 50 radio stations, including being BBC Somerset album of the week. They have also played in session on many shows including BBC Introducing in the West. They have been featured on the FATEA showcase sessions and on Tom Robinson's listening post. "The album as a whole is immaculate in its delivery. Sprightly snappy driving guitar from Tom Chapman, the sweet breezy dancing tone of Sharon Martin’s voice with other stringed instruments adding thoughtfulness and wondering to the overall narrative of the album." Roots of the World 
