Talis Kimberley is an English folk singer-songwriter, activist, [1] and political figure [2] based in Wiltshire, England. Her songs are narrative in nature and feature a mixture of mythology, green issues and everyday life approached from unexpected angles, among other things. [3] She performs as a solo artist or with her floating band (formerly 'Mythical Beasts'), [4] and is managed by Marchwood Media. She has been an active contributor to the Occupy movement, and in 2015 was the parliamentary candidate for the Green Party for the South Swindon constituency, winning 1,757 votes. [5]
Kimberley has been an active musician on the filk circuit since 1990, [6] playing in the UK, Germany, Canada and the United States. She has been a Guest of Honour at VIbraphone (1994) – UK; FilKONtario (1997) – Canada; OVFF (2000), Consonance (2003), DucKon 19 (2010), MarCon (2017) – USA; and FilkCONtinental (2006) – Germany. [7] She was also Guest at DraCon, Bristol (1992) and 'Featured Filker' at Boskone, USA (1995). [8]
Talis has been nominated for 32 Pegasus Awards and of those nominations has received nine awards: [9]
Year | Category | Song |
---|---|---|
2014 | Best Song | Paper Worlds (tie) |
2013 | Best Writer/Composer | |
2009 | Best Classic Song | Still Catch the Tide |
2008 | Best Classic Song | Archetype Café |
2007 | Best Writer/Composer | |
2006 | Best Torch Song | X-Libris |
2002 | Best Filk Song | Velvet |
2001 | Best Performer | |
2001 | Best Writer/Composer |
In addition to releasing her own albums, Kimberley has also worked as an album contributor:
Her guest musician appearances on other albums include:
Several of Talis Kimberley's songs have been covered by other musicians and ensembles including Kathy Mar, Zander Nyrond, Musical Chairs, Rika Körte, Judith Hayman, Harmony Heifers, [12] Seanan McGuire, [13] Dandelion Wine and Playing Rapunzel.
Kimberley has performed in many and varying settings during the course of her career. She appeared at the Schlendrian Folk Bar (2000), [14] Glastonbury Festival (1995) [15] and the Bristol Community Festival (several years in the 1990s). She was part of Festival at the Edge 2012, Treefest 2011 and 2012, and the Little Green Gathering 2013. Kimberley was the Songwriter in Residence at the 2013 Havant Literary Festival. [16] She was also one of the acts, along with Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson, who took part in a charity fundraiser to allow the village of Wroughton to purchase Kings Farm Wood. [17]
Kimberley is an active member of the Green Party, having stood in the 2014 local elections as the Swindon Area Green Party candidate for Wroughton Ward of Swindon Borough Council. [18] Previously serving as Press Officer, in 2015 she was the party's candidate for the South Swindon parliamentary constituency, [19] and received the fewest votes (1,757 votes / 3.6% of the total vote). [5] She stood again in the 2017 election and received 747 votes (1.5%). [20]
Kimberley also served as a member of Wroughton Parish Council for several years, including as Chair of the Environment and Road Traffic committee, and then was twice elected chair of the council. She is currently an independent councillor on Wroughton Parish Council.[ citation needed ]
As well as having had lyrics for her songs published in various filk songbooks, Kimberley has contributed to publications [21] and co-created the comic strip Zen Zebras. [22] Kimberley has also appeared in the ITV West TV Documentary 'Highly Illogical' (2003) [23] and made guest appearances on radio shows including the Prairie Ceilidh radio show in Canada. [24]
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