Reviews

" Andrew and Mark complement each other admirably on any instrumental combination they choose to employ."
- Living Tradition

“Andrew Cadie and Mark Bloomer are both accomplished folk musicians, but it's the joyful exuberance of their music which sets it apart."
- Roots Music

“The whole album is well crafted and signposts great things for Broom Bezzums.”
- Folking.com

"Broom Bezzums don't just play their music, they live it"
- Schaffhauser Nachrichten, Switzerland

"Just about the best young duo on the circuit - a real class act!"
- Steve Knightley (Show of Hands)

"Two talented multi-instrumentalists and singers with a strong sense of real folk music and a fresh outlook on how to deliver it."
- Jez Lowe

Full Reviews

Andrew Cadie and Mark Bloomer are both accomplished folk musicians, but it's the joyful exuberance of their music which sets it apart, traditional political songs such as "Working Men of England" and "Chains of Tyranny" mix with self penned tracks such as the instrumental Shearer's No 9
- Roots Music, CDs of 2007

Two wonderfully talented and versatile musicians with an amazing rapport... I can't recommend them highly enough! Stylish and adventurous in their arrangements; terrific songwriting skills; lovely dry humour... what more can you ask? I urge you to buy their albums...
-Moorfolk, November 2009

BROOM BEZZUMS – Under The Rug (Seeplejack Music SJCD11)
Comparisons of Broom Bezzums (Andrew Cadie & Mark Bloomer) to Robin & Barry Dransfield may come thick and fast in the fickle world of ‘folk’ but then, if memory serves me right it happened to Spiers & Boden as well. Also, I suppose from the opening strains of “Binnorie” (a variant of The Cruel Sister) maybe those comparisons could be well founded featuring as it does the double-stopped fiddle and guitar accompaniment alongside strident vocals. It’s this forceful, take no prisoners attitude that drives the album along at a fair pace and although not without its subtleties the recording doesn’t flounder like so many other artists I can think of featuring a similar line-up. The choice of material sits well with a mixture of traditional and self-penned songs perhaps best illustrated by the wistful, gently finger-picked guitar and whistle injected tale of woe “Clipboard Lassies”, a contemporary tale told in a traditional way and not dissimilar to Jez Lowe in style. For those that like tunes there’s plenty here to please and the duo proudly utilise melodies from their North-Country heritage as well as their own compositions with aplomb and energy. All in all this is a very satisfying recording and one that I’m sure will provide a very secure future for this fine duo. Further info from www.broombezzums.com
- Pete Fyfe, Nov. 2009

Broom Bezzums – UNDER THE RUG (Steeplejack Music)
Broom Bezzums is a duo comprising singing fiddler Andrew Cadie (who also plays Northumbrian pipes and guitar) and singer Mark Bloomer who plays flute, mandolin and guitar. You may have come across Andrew before, either as a member of the trio Roll-A-Penny or as a solo artist. Broom Bezzums’ debut release as a duo, Arise Ye Sons Of Freedom, appeared a couple of years ago, and presented a politically-unified collection of songs reflecting Andrew’s keen interest in the industrial history of his native north-east, attractively punctuated by vitally-performed instrumental tune-sets, many pieces originating in the Northumbrian Minstrelsy collection. The strong local flavour and acute sense of political commitment both again inform the duo’s followup record, as does a broadly similar ratio of songs to instrumental tracks. But if anything the performances are even more vigorous and full of life this time round – check out the raucous knees-up of The Blind Fiddler, or the driving Disco Reels set. Vigour does not preclude sensitivity however, as the small but significant selection of Andrew’s excellent original compositions on the disc demonstrates to good effect: The Miner’s Ghost is an eerie tale built on a genuinely spooky coincidence, the broadside-style Clipboard Lassies warns of the dangers of credit cards and This Happy Marriage examines Anglo-Scots relations (and comes with a particularly catchy chorus). As well as swaggering versions of the ballad Binnorie and Banks Of The Dee (which, perhaps contrary to the impression given by its title, takes the form of a pitman’s lament), there’s also a well-observed take on Colin Dryden’s Factory Lad (which first came to my attention on the James Fagan/Fagan Family recording), and Mark’s forthright, smoky voice comes into its own on Colliers’ March, while the disc closes with its most well-known item, a suitably malcontent, if mournful take on The Begging Song. The various tune-sets don’t always play second fiddle to the songs, however, for they’re filled with lively playing and Andrew’s original tunes display well-absorbed influences from Scottish and Irish traditions as well as the expected Northumbrian inspirations. Arrangement-wise, while the duo sound is sturdy, full and rich, the fine detail of each individual contribution is both admirably audible and believably integrated. At the risk of trotting out the obvious sweeping statement – I’d say go buy broom bezzums!
- Folk Roundabout, issue 154, Nov 2009

Broom Bezzums Under the Rug (Thumbs up review)
Second album from English folk duo. Fiddle, guitar, Northumbrian pipes and mandolin accompany robust vocals on powerful songs, both traditional and self-composed. Their gutsy delivery suits their material, much of it about exploitation and worker’s rights. Catch them live this November!
- fRoots, Sept 09

Broom Bezzums are an acoustic duo consisting of Mark Bloomer and Andrew Cadie. Both are singers and multi instrumentalists, mastering guitars, mandolin, whistle, fiddle, Northumbrian pipes and trumpet between them.
Their first album “Arise you Sons of Feedom” is a mix of mostly traditional songs and instrumentals which effortlessly covers music from across the British Isles but particularly features songs from the North East of England, and drawing on Andrew’s Northumbrian heritage allows him to shine on the Northumbrian pipes.
The vocal style well matches the songs bringing to mind a particular time and place particularly in the songs originating from the North East such as “Here’s the tender coming” and “Oaksey strike evictions” with sad tales of the press gang and evictions of strikers families from their homes. An evocative version of the oft recorded “The Blackleg Miner” works well, sung with pathos accompanied by guitar and raw sounding fiddle. The arrangements are simple but very effective, complimenting the songs, the melancholic timbre of the music giving an overall feel of a time long ago when life was hard and often very unfair.
But despite the downbeat subject matter of many of the songs there is a balance in humour as in the delightfully named instrumentals “Shearer’s no.9” named after the Newcastle footballer, a much respected sportsman and ambassador for “the beautiful game”, and also “Auf Wiedersehen Pet”, an arrangement of two Northumbrian jigs whose title refers to the TV comedy about English builders living in Germany, very appropriate when you realise “Broom Bezzums” is based in Germany!
The album closes with “Chains of Tyranny” from the pen of Andrew Cadie. It is well written both lyrically and melodically and could easily be mistaken for a traditional song and provides an excellent closure to “Arise you sons of freedom.” The whole album is well crafted and signposts great things for “Broom Bezzums” though I do hope they make more appearances this side of the channel!
- Folking.com, Feb 2008

Broom Bezzums is a duo comprising singing fiddler Andrew Cadie (who also plays Northumbrian pipes and guitar) and singer Mark Bloomer who plays flute, mandolin and guitar. Andrew, who’s also a member of Roll-a-Penny, released a marvellous solo CD ‘The Snow Tree’ only last year, whereas Mark is blessed with an attractively smoky voice and forthright singing style and, being a former professional drummer, brings a powerful rhythmic charge to his playing.
Arise You Sons of Freedom, though perhaps a clumsy title, is nevertheless an exhortation that’s worth heeding, for certainly this vital collection of songs and tunes, many (though not quite all)of North-Eastern origin, will keep you awake and attentive throughout the generous duration of this disc. The tunes are an interesting selection and embrace the minor key delights of The Peacock Followed the Hen (from the Northumbrian Minstrelsy), a sparkling set of pipers’ jigs and a handful of inspired self-penned compositions in the traditional idiom. The songs include vigorous treatments of Blackleg Miner, Working Men Of England, Oakey Strike Evictions and Rigs Of The Time, alongside sensitive treatments of Here’s The Tender Comin’ and Bonny Brown Hair (though I’m not totally won over by Mark’s revised/improvised melody for the latter), and the disc concludes with a strong Andrew Cadie original, the self explanatory Chains of Tyranny which, thematically speaking, brings the proceedings full circle to where they began some fifty minutes earlier.
Considering that only two musicians are involved the ensemble sound is rich, while at the same time there’s much fine detailing to occupy the ear. Vocal harmonies are solid and well managed, and Andrew and Mark complement each other admirably on any instrumental combination they choose to employ. It’s going to sound like I’m making a sweeping statement by resorting to the obvious cliché, but I do mean it: go buy broom bezzums (buy them when they’re new)!
- The Living Tradition, November 2007

Broom Bezzums – Arise you sons of freedom… (Thumbs up)
Alias Andrew Cadie (fiddle) and Mark Bloomer (flute/guitar), this is a competent debut that does the job without being too trad or too predictable. Lots of familiar source material and a smattering of covers and originals mean that there’s more to them than might first meet your ear. Should do well round the clubs.”
- fRoots, Jan/Feb 2008

International Reviews

for all German reviews (in German) <click here>

"Congenial, quick-witted and fun-loving...very soulful - a breathtaking fireworks display of technically impressive playing".
“No matter how much wisecracking they did in the introductions, after 3 notes they’re completely in to the song, respectful, melancholy, biting, cantankerous, dreamy and love-struck. These are moments where something is bestowed on the audience…”
- Rheinpfalz, Germany

“To be more boiled-down than in this duo is barley possible. Thanks to their excellent technical abilities, both musicians create such a full sound that further instruments just aren’t missed.”
-WAZ, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

“Much variety was offered by these thoroughbred musicians, with guitars, fiddle, pipes and English and Scottish songs. Their patter was greeted with plenty of laughter…”
- Ruhr Nachrichten, Germany

 

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