Meg Baird Biography
Margaret Baird, Philadelphia, USA. This talented purveyor of timeless retro folk rose to fame as part of the 2002-formed Philadelphian psych-folk collective, Espers. Prior to Baird's involvement in this Greg Weeks fronted project, she learnt her trade performing Appalachian music with her elder sibling Laura under the Baird Sisters moniker. At the age of 19, Laura took her to see North Carolina-born folk song enthusiast and novelist Sheila Kay Adams, and this was a defining moment in the development of her appreciation of music. The Baird Sisters' rough demos, as recorded by their father Thomas in January 2003, were self-released, complete with handmade sleeve on the hard-to-find, At Home. Merely a year later her haunting lead vocal could be heard on the delicate "Flowery Noontide', the opening track of Espers' 2004 self-titled debut. A covers EP, 2005"s The Weed Tree followed, as did a second album, and Baird's integral contribution to each of these releases paved the way to her growth as a solo artist.
Baird's blossoming friendship with Oxford, England's Sharron Kraus, a dark folk enchantress in the Anne Briggs mould who had relocated to Philadelphia, led to many evenings sharing their knowledge of traditional ballads. When Espers cellist Helena Espvall joined them for an afternoon of recording, the fruits of this project saw light of day on an October 2006 release under the moniker, Leaves From Off The Tree. Like the underrated Vermont-based singer-songwriter Rebecca Hall, Baird was equally at home tackling Judee Sill-inspired country ballads alongside Sandy Denny-influenced, acid-tinged British folk. Alt country pioneer Gillian Welch was also a key influence on Baird's 2007 solo debut, Dear Companion, a record made up of cover versions, interpretations of traditional material and two Baird originals, "Maiden In The Moor Lay" and "Riverhouse In Tinicum". The latter invoked pure, Pink Moon- era Nick Drake and showcased Baird's deft finger picking abilities and gift for bittersweet storytelling.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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