Debut album, ‘Still Standing’ 29/03/2024
DEBUT ALBUM
STILL STANDING
OUT NOW
Will Page releases debut solo album featuring collaboration with Steve Knightley (Show Of Hands).
Following the success of his debut single, ‘Strength To Carry On’, which was well received by the likes of Ralph Mclean (BBC Radio Ulster), Frank Hennessy (BBC Radio Wales) and Iain Anderson (BBC Radio Scotland), Will Page builds on a foundation of resilience and hope against the odds with his upbeat and heartfelt debut album, Still Standing.
Notably, Will has enjoyed collaborating with pedigree artists on various tracks on this album including none other than the legendary Steve Knightley (Show Of Hands) as well as bodhrán and percussionist Cormac Byrne (Seth Lakeman band, Show Of Hands, Uiscedwr)!
NEW SINGLE - OUT NOW!
The Rise
Featuring Steve Knightley (Show Of Hands)
Will Page records with Steve Knightley (Show of Hands) to feature on his upcoming single ‘The Rise’ (23/02/24) ahead of his debut album (29/02/24).
Globally increasing social and political tension underpin the theme of Will Page’s new single, ‘The Rise’.
Featuring none other than Steve Knightley (Show Of Hands), his emotive backing vocals and expressive tenor guitar playing augment Will’s lead vocal and haunting fiddle melodies which stir emotion from the start. The song develops with production, storytelling and powerful choruses with an unexpected change in energy, building an optimistic mood with the fiddle taking charge to drive the track home.
This exciting collaboration between Will Page and Steve Knightley began with a writing session at a half-way house in Salisbury after becoming acquainted on the festival and folk club circuit. ‘The Rise’ is the first of two tracks which they recorded at Doz Studios in Will’s hometown of Tunbridge Wells and will feature on Will’s upcoming debut album on 29th March 2024.
MORE RELEASES
Broadstairs
I wrote this song to celebrate Broadstairs Folk Week, the internationally renowned Kentish festival (South East England) where for one week every year the whole town is immersed in folk music and arts with simultaneous gigs at every possible venue! I have fond memories of performing at this festival over the years with my band, Noble Jacks, and it was upon being booked as a solo artist in 2023 that I felt it was time to capture the magic and excitement of Broadstairs Folk Week in a song! I hope you enjoy my DIY video which enabled me to capture some of the festival as I experienced it in 2023!
Strength To Carry On
Strength To Carry On, debut single by Will Page, tells the amazing story of an incredibly strong woman; Doris Page (pen name Ann Armstrong), who despite being paralyzed for 30 years of her life by polio disease wrote and published books (BBC!) and magazines typing with her toes and founded the Independence At Home charity. For all her amazing work, Ann was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II. Ann was Will's grandmother.
“Congratulations on the new single, Will, fine job!” - Frank Hennessy, BBC Radio Wales
"Will's new single 'Strength to Carry On' has an uplifting tune and emotive vocals, combined with a personal narrative about using the strength within to overcome adversity. A great debut!" - Stuart Green, The Folk Club Radio Show
The story behind ‘Strength To Carry On’…
Strength To Carry On tells the amazing story of an incredibly strong woman; Doris Page (pen name Ann Armstrong), who despite being paralyzed for 30 years of her life by polio disease wrote published books and magazine articles typing with her toes and founded the Independence At Home charity. For all her amazing work, Ann was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II. Ann was Will's grandmother.
In Spring 2022 a blue plaque was mounted on Ann’s family home in Newbury to commemorate her incredible achievements and as a person of significant historical importance; not least for surviving 30 years of bed-bound and respiratory paralysis, legacy of championing independent living for disabled people, writing books published by the BBC (A Breath Of Life, 1985) or being a wife and mother of two. Above all, it was her mental strength and spirit which still inspires today.
She was the first ‘Responaut’; a term she coined to describe life dependent on equipment & technology to survive, such as an ‘iron lung’ to control her breathing which she lost due to polio. Ann founded The Responaut magazine (1963-1989) which was a quarterly magazine that was by, for and about respirator-aided and other gadget-aided people. Confined to her bed and unable to move her arms or hands or even breathe unaided, Ann reached out through The Responaut and created a community offering support for others. Her book, A Breath Of Life, documented and reflected upon her feelings and experience of contracting respiratory polio, being hospitalised and separated from her family. Her account is quite detailed with many small daily incidents described and it builds a picture of the early NHS and of prevailing attitudes which are specific to that time, but also touches on themes which have broad relevance today.
It was at the 2022 commemoration service, led by the Mayor of Newbury and other community and family members, that Will fully unearthed the immense story of his grandmother and was compelled to write a song in her memory. “I hope my song ‘Strength To Carry On’ serves as a positive and inspiring message to listeners in these troubled times” tells Will. “Beginning my solo artist career at this time feels like my grandmother has reached down from above to give me this song to set me on my journey”.
Taking the lead on this track are Will’s energetic, expressive fiddle playing and melodic vocals. Noteworthy too is the performance by BBC Folk Award winning instrumentalist, Cormac Byrne, on bodhran and percussion. Being well recognised on the Americana scene, you can observe Will’s enthusiasm for storytelling within his lyrics; indeed Strength To Carry On showcases Will in full storytelling mode! The song crescendos with fiddle and vocal soaring together to create an exciting and heartfelt listening experience.
PLUS
Grab the Strength To Carry On magazine with full story behind the song and more!
*Every copy sold will donate £1 to the Independence At Home Charity.
