With superb arrangements, breathtaking harmonies, down-to-earth virtuosity … Read Full Bio ↴With superb arrangements, breathtaking harmonies, down-to-earth virtuosity and an infectious delight in live performance, Kate Howden and Paul Jones are songwriters with that special magic that takes you on a journey through a musical landscape, telling stories and sharing experience with their music. Between them they play, guitar, mandolin, bodhran,and cajon..

Kate Howden and Paul Jones met through their work with young people at a community music project, and immediately established an appreciation of each other’s approach to writing and performing original songs. This soon lead to them working closely together on a live set. They first performed together in July 1998.

Following this, they booked themselves into Ken Nicol’s studio in Preston “to see what happened”. The resulting debut CD “Kate Howden and Paul Jones” was launched in April 2000 and though it outsold expectations was initially intended as a extended demo.

Through cold calling and mailshots, bookings began to increase. As well as Folk Club bookings, Kate and Paul supported established artists including Niamh Parsons, The Oysterband, Jackie Leven, Coope, Boyes and Simpson.

Returning to the studio in August 2000, Kate and Paul recorded “Silver Waters”, an album of 14 jointly penned songs. Released in March 2001, “Silver Waters” received highly complimentary reviews;

Since recording “Silver Waters”, Kate and Paul have continued to visit folk clubs around the country, and have established themselves as guests. Through a raised profile in the music press, and the creation of their website : www.howdenjones.co.uk, they attracted increasing attention from folk club organisers and festival promoters.

During the summer of 2001 Kate and Paul visited various festivals, including Saddleworth, Saltburn, Whitby, Clitheroe, Wombwell and Fylde, and in July met up with Tony Taffinder. A skilled multi-Instrumentalist, Tony added guitar, bouzouki, whistles, bass guitar and also voice to a new line-up that became the trio Kate Howden, Paul Jones and Tony Taffinder. Kate, Paul and Tony worked together for 18 months and recorded the third CD ‘Room to Breathe’ in April 2002.

In September 2003 Kate and Paul returned to playing as a duo for their autumn tour. During the tour, they were joined at various gigs by guest musicians. Laurence Canty on bass, Sarah Cheffins on fiddle and Trevor Wagstaff on percussion.

In November 2003, the combination of these musicians and the “howdenjones” songwriting partnership recorded a live CD, ‘beautiful again’ released in February 2004. Recorded at Glasson Dock by Dave Angus and Tom Roseburgh of Big Sky Studios, Galashiels, this CD proved the power, beauty and honesty of Kate and Paul’s songs and captured the roller-coaster ride of their live performance.

The CD was a live compilation of the songs to date and from it developed a new relationship with Sarah Cheffins as a permanent member. Playing Fiddle and Swedish Nyckelharpa, Sarah added new depth to Kate and Paul’s songs and the three developed a new sound, with Kate focusing on Mandolin and Cajon, and including more instrumental work.

Sarah has now left howdenjones as a full-time member to pursue other things. Howdenjones remain as Kate and Paul with a rolling roster of supporting musicians.

“Performed with great feeling and superb instrumental skill. This was a splendid performance, and I can no better sum up than by saying that I would travel a considerable distance to see Howdenjones again. Excellent!”
Steve Fox, Bingham Folk Club
March 2005

Andalucia
howdenjones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Terdengar jerit tangisan bayi
di puing reruntuhan sunyi,
mencari tempat tuk sembunyi
Hindari Peluru menari

Saat angkara murka
Angkat sumpahnya, yeah...

jangan bunuh lirih pintamu,

di Koran Tv dan Radio
semuanya tentang TRAGEDI...!!!

tak ada lagi sapa Hallo
yang ada hanya kata, LEDAKAAAAN!!!
kau dengar parau suaraku
tolong hentikan, yeah...
semua kengerian ini.,

"Semua kengerian ini,
"Semua kebencian ini,
"Semua kebusukan ini,
"Semua kemurkaan ini...!!!

A kha.,!!
Saat Angkara murka
Angkat sumpahnya, yeah.
jangan bunuh lirih pintamu.,
Kau dengar parau suaraku
tolong hentikan, yeah...
semua kengerian ini...
kebencian ini...
kebusukan ini...
kemurkaan ini...
Nyanyian ini...!!!
Tarian ini...!!!
Nyanyian ini...!!!

Tarian ini...!!!
Ach...!!!!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Andalucia" offer a poignant commentary on the pain and suffering caused by conflict and violence. The opening lines describe the cries of a baby amidst the ruins of a war-torn landscape, searching for a place to hide and avoid the dancing bullets. The song goes on to express the frustration and despair felt by those caught up in this kind of violence, as the media focuses on sensationalizing tragic events rather than seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The repeated refrain of "Semua kengerian ini" ("All this horror") drives home the sense of overwhelming sadness and hopelessness that can come with experiencing violence firsthand. The lyrics also allude to the power dynamics at play, with those in positions of authority (perhaps government officials or military leaders) making solemn oaths not to kill innocent civilians, yet failing to follow through on those promises.

Ultimately, the song portrays a plea for compassion and understanding, asking listeners to listen to the cries of those who are suffering and to take action to prevent more senseless violence from occurring. Despite the darkness and despair of the subject matter, the song offers a glimmer of hope that through the power of music and dancing, we can find moments of joy and unity even amidst the most challenging circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

Terdengar jerit tangisan bayi
The sound of crying babies can be heard in the deserted wreckage as they search for a place to hide and avoid the bullets.

di puing reruntuhan sunyi,
The silence is broken only by the remains of the wreckage.

mencari tempat tuk sembunyi
The babies search for a place to hide and protect themselves.

Hindari Peluru menari
As they move around trying to avoid the bullets, they seem to be dancing.

Saat angkara murka
During the time of wrath and anger.

Angkat sumpahnya, yeah...
Making a vow or swearing to do something in response.

jangan bunuh lirih pintamu,
Don't kill the soft whispers that escape your mouth.

di Koran Tv dan Radio
On the newspaper, TV and radio.

semuanya tentang TRAGEDI...!!!
Everything is about tragedy.

tak ada lagi sapa Hallo
There is no more friendly greeting 'hello'.

yang ada hanya kata, LEDAKAAAAN!!!
The only word that exists is an explosion.

kau dengar parau suaraku
Can you hear my throaty voice?

tolong hentikan, yeah...
Please stop it!