New Roots presents Esther Dee & the Carousel

Event Information

From castles and cathedrals to festivals and theatres, singer songwriter Esther Dee has sung with the prog supergroup Yes, soul legend Omar, Irish cultural phenomenon Riverdance, Benjamin Clementine, Crowd Company and Mediæval Bæbes, to audiences including King Charles, Nelson Mandela and the English National Opera. Come share in the revelry as Esther celebrates the launch of her long awaited album 'Esther Dee & the Carousel' alongside special guest performers.

Carousels, roundabouts, and Merry-Go-Rounds have a long, documented history in art, stemming from the time of The Crusades – even used as a method of combat training. Italian crusaders would call them ‘carosello’ or ‘little war’. This term was taken up in France where the word ‘carousel’ originated. Esther's music today weaves its own ‘little war’. Her vocals oscillate from celestial highs to low tones, summoning the spirits of Judie Sill, Minnie Riperton and Kate Bush – all the while maintaining a playful, childlike quality, full of secrets and mischief.

“Merry-go-rounds quickly turning
Quickly turning for you and me
And the whole world madly turning
Turning, turning 'till you can't see”

~ from Jaques Brel and Gay Marshall' 'Carousel'