Megan Wisdom is a folk singer and student of Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University. Born and bred in Suffolk, she has attended folk sessions ever since she can remember, and now performs regularly at folk clubs and festivals. Megan recorded herself in the Music Studios at Newcastle University in November 2019, singing both unaccompanied and with her table harmonium.

Image: Caroline Lawrence Photography

• Title: A Blacksmith Courted Me
• Performer: Megan Wisdom
• Date recorded: 6.11.2019
• Location: Newcastle University (Music Studios)
• Recorded by: Self
• Roud No: 816
• Notes: Megan learned this song from Jo Freya’s album Traditional Songs of England but has known other versions since she was a child, including one which she sings with her mother, Tracey.

• Title: The Bonny Hawthorn
• Performer: Megan Wisdom
• Date recorded: 6.11.2019
• Location: Newcastle University (Music Studios)
• Recorded by: Self
• Roud No: 9268
• Notes: Megan first came across this popular chorus song on an LP of 1980s folk band Pyewackett. She then plays the Cotswold morris tune “Old Molly Oxford” on table harmonium.

• Title: The Recruited Collier
• Performer: Megan Wisdom
• Date recorded: 6.11.2019
• Location: Newcastle University (Music Studios)
• Recorded by: Self
• Roud No: 3503
• Notes: This version is from Anne Briggs and is featured on her 1999 Topic anthology A Collection. (Performance note: Megan coughs towards the end of the song.)