Twins a step closer to music prize

By Jemima Laing
BBC Devon

The gardens of Devon may have to wait for a makeover if the success of the singing Carrivick Sisters continues.

Twins Laura and Charlotte, 20, from Salcombe say if their joint singing career doesn't go to plan they'll pursue jobs as garden designers.

But as they have made it to the final six for BBC Radio 2's Young Folk Musicians of the Year Award 2010 the trowels may have to stay in the shed.

"It's so exciting to get through," said Laura,"we really didn't expect it."

The sisters play a variety of bluegrass instruments - mainly guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro and fiddle - with vocal harmonies and are both songwriters.

Although their background is in bluegrass, their music has a strong folk influence which is evident in their original songs, many of which are inspired by their local landscape and stories.

"Devon definitely has an effect on what we write," said Laura.

"We write a lot about stories from Devon, it has a very strong influence."

They have released three CDs so far: My Own Two Feet in 2006, Better Than 6 Cakes in 2007 and Jupiter's Corner, released in April 2009.

The pair - who have been playing as a duo since 2006 - got the news that they had been nominated while on the road supporting The Jeff & Vida Band.

"We really didn't expect it," said Laura.

"We entered because we thought it would be the last year we could enter but we really didn't think we 'd get through."

The twins initially made it on to a shortlist of 11 and then performed before a judging panel in Stratford on Avon.

Laura and Charlotte Carrivick come from Salcombe

The finals are on 4 December this year and Charlotte and Laura will compete against five other artists at the BBC's Broadcasting House in London.

The winners will be announced via Mike Harding's folk radio show on Radio 2, winning them national airplay and kudos from a major folk outlet.

Together the sisters have already performed at major festivals in the Netherlands, Canada and Austria as well as at Glastonbury and Sidmouth.

And in 2007 they won the South West Buskers and Street Entertainers Competition.

"It's all very exciting and the music is the thing at the moment.

"But if it does fail we'd both do landscape and garden design, something completely different," said Laura.

Laura and Charlotte have just returned from a successful tour of Ireland but local fans will have the chance to see the girls in action when they perform at Topsham Wine Cellar on 28 October 2009.

But if their current trajectory continues it seems more likely that their green fingers will be otherwise employed, performing their distinctive brand of music for some time to come.