Recording Ursula Holden Gill: A Storytelling Session to Remember

When Keith Donnelly introduced me to Ursula Holden Gill with the idea of recording her first album, I had no idea what I was letting myself in for.

Keith explained that she was a “storyteller” and, honestly, I thought, how hard can that be? Put a mic in front of someone, press record, and listen to them tell a few tales.

Well — I wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t hard at all.

In fact, it was an absolute joy.

Magic in the Studio

What unfolded in the studio was something truly special. I ended up recording two albums with Ursula:
There Are Fairies in the Gutter

and

The Handless Maiden’s Daughter

There Are Fairies in the Gutter is Ursula’s first collection of original songs and stories, filled with magical realism and “inspired by real-life characters”. Alongside her own spellbinding material, the album also features Me and the Moon and the Foxes, as well as the award-winning song Prayer both written by Keith Donnelly.

Recording it was unlike anything I’ve done before. Ursula sang, played the ukulele, and even brought her clogs into the studio — yes, I recorded those too! She was joined by a brilliant line-up of musicians including:

• Keith Donnelly – Guitar, Ukulele, Percussion

• Martin Oram – Fiddle, Mandolin

• Anna Ryder – Accordion, Piano

Ursula told me many of the songs were written to accompany her storytelling — some drawn from tradition, others her own. The result is 2 albums that feels like stepping into a different world.

I didn’t realise how truly gifted Ursula was. Someone described her as spellbinding — and I couldn’t agree more. There’s a depth, a charm, and a quiet brilliance in what she does. I’d go so far as to call it genius.

It was a genuine honour to record her work here at Heathcote Studio.

If you get the chance, I highly recommend giving them a listen. Whether you’re into folk music, storytelling, or just something a little magical — this is for you.

Both albums are now available via Bandcamp:
Listen here