With all of today's technical advances in music recording and replay, sampling, echo, flanging and endless processing there is still more than ample room for simple music and song.  This is where Mediaeval Baebes fill a space in ancient and folk music.  Although Clannad came to the front with their folk and Celtic songs, and recognisible TV themes eg; 'Harry's Game', they were listed in people's minds as an Irish Folk group.  The Mediaeval Baebes tend to be more 'English' sounding.  However, the Mediaeval Baebes are today a multi-cultural, multi-national all female song group.

The Mediæval Bæbes is an English ensemble of beautiful maidens founded by Miranda Sex Garden member Katharine Blake in London in 1996.   Inlcluding some of her other friends who share her passion for medieval music. The lineup changes from album to album, and ranges from 8 to 12 members, at present eight.  Although a spin-off from Miranda Sex Garden, there are some differences, the main difference is the Baebes keep their clothes on, well on stage anyhow.  Some would say that their music tends to be more a funkier version of medieval music.  But that is for you to decide.

The Mediaeval Baebes formed when Katharine Blake met Dorothy Carter in Berlin, Germany in the Spring of 1996.  Dorothy inspired Katharine to form the initially recreationally orientated vocal group with a close circle of her friends.  Dorothy is the instrumentalist with the Mediaeval Baebes, calling on the likes of the  dulcimer, hurdy gurdy and zither.

One thing all the artists have in common is a passion and obsession with regards to authenticity and accuracy, historically speaking, of their music.

The Bæbes’s initial album, Salva Nos (1997), went straight into the Number 2 slot in the classical charts, giving them a silver disc.   Follow on albums include 'Worldes Blysse' (taking the No.1 slot immediately), 'Undrentide', in association with John Cale, then 'The Rose', and the album'Mistletoe & Wine' themed for Christmas.

Delighting their audiences with high quality performances using the combination of harmonic sound with beautiful women.  Spiritually uplifting, their sound comes delivered with passion, pageantry  returning the long lost age of romance and folklore.

Accoustically these internationally acclaimed singers are particularly at home in ancient and historical settings such as cathedrals and castles where their sound bounces from the walls and high ceilings as it would have done many hundreds of years ago.  This only adds to ambience of the music in a natural environment.

Performing in rather more prestigious places, for instance the Royal Albert Hall and Louis XIVth’s chapel at Fontainebleau, France.  But they have performed in more unusual places too, old prisons, asylums their music echoing round the buildings.

Some of their work has moved over to the main stage of Glastonbury Festival and recently a Baebes track was sampled by the highly acclaimed dance act ‘Delirium.'

These beautiful maidens sharing the same passion for folk music in an ancient tradition come from many countries, including Australia, Belgium, France and Italy.  Therefore it is not surprising that their songs are sung in many languages including some now obscure eg; Cornish and early Welsh.

The Mediaeval Baebes - Regent Centre, Christchurch. December 14th 2008  See Event Calendar