Yvette Staelens and Michelle Hicks have breathed new life into a collection of early twentieth century songs by rural women in Somerset.
Michelle and Yvette, who have formed a singing group, The Roots Quartet have uncovered many of the original words of the songs, some of which were considered too bawdy to publish in full at the time. More genteel versions were published by Cecil Sharp who travelled to Somerset to write down copies of the songs. Debbie Manners spoke to Michelle and Yvette about their performance of the original songs, and about the Somerset women who once sang them.
