Jackie's back to her beloved roots

WINNER of not one but two gongs at this year's BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Exeter's Jackie Oates is definitely in the ascendency. Literally a lifelong Sidmouth regular, she's set to be wearing many different hats at the 2009 festival – performing with fellow award-winner, brother and musical collaborator Jim Moray, a host of friends and musicians, as well as in a theatrical venture with ex-Albion Band's Judy Dunlop for aproduction of The Navvy's Wife, a folk musical by Mick Ryan.

Is there no end to the talents of this fiddle-playing, honey-voiced folk babe?

"I love the diversity of stuff," laughs the 25-year- old in between teaching end-of-term violin lessons before embarking on a steady stream of festival dates the length and breadth of the country this summer.

Sidmouth, though, has a special place in her heart as well as her social calendar.

"I've grown up there – I've never missed a single festival," she says proudly.

"I feel a lot of my performing experience comes from Sidmouth. I was involved in the Shooting Roots sessions for young people, so used to sing and play from the age of 12. Actually, a lot of audiences have seen me play very badly, so in a way it is strange coming back as a professional."

But she has definitely earned her stripes. This spring she collected the BBC folk award for Best Traditional Song, The Lark in The Morning, from her highly acclaimed album The Violet Hour, as well as the coveted Horizon Award.

And September sees the release of her new album, Hyperboreans, recorded and produced entirely by brother Jim, a multi-award winner himself whose electro approach to folk has ruffled a few purist feathers at the same time as attracting a whole new audience to the genre.

It was, admits Jackie, a professional gamble. With only 18 months between them in age, the siblings share the same folk family background but have developed very separate styles.

"We have a different ethos about the tradition," she says. "I have developed around Devon and want to remain true to that and Jim comes from a different angle – but yes, it is a healthy difference! The love of the music is still there.

"I was very apprehensive at first but I can honestly say that in the past six months working with him I have learned more than in the previous six years. He really pushed me with my singing – before I just used to sing but he's shown me that it's OK to go for it a lot more.

"It's quite a departure for me. I'm a lot more assured – it's more polished and even has some bass and drums on it! Jim's on every track, and plays many of the instruments himself."

But before the album launch comes a summer of festival dates around the country, including Bideford and, of course, Sidmouth, as well as a brief foray into the thespian world...

"I've been involved with Mick Ryan's folk operas for about two years and The Navvy's Wife is his latest," she explains.

"I don't have a very big part but it's great fun..."

The Navvy's Wife is on at the Manor Pavilion on Thursday, August 6 at 2.30pm. Jackie Oates plays various concerts throughout Sidmouth FolkWeek alongside such artists as Jim Moray, Jackie Leven, James Dumbleton, Jim Causely and Eliza Carthy. Check programme for details. Hyperboreans is released on September 7.