Maria Gilhooley

Maria Gilhooley ( Knight), who records under the name Marry Waterson, is a singer, songwriter and visual artist. A member of the Waterson-Knight-Carthy family musical dynasty, Waterson is described as having "thrived on communal music making while developing highly original and distinctly English performance styles of [her] own." She made her recording debut as a guest on the album A True Hearted Girl by Lal and Norma Waterson in 1977. In 1988 she formed an occasional singing partnership with her mother Lal, aunt Norma and cousin Eliza Carthy under the name The Waterdaughters. She has since been a guest performer on numerous Watersons and Waterson–Carthy recordings and has often performed live with her family at festivals and special performances.

Later musical career On 12 May 2007, Waterson appeared with the Waterson family at a special concert at the Royal Albert Hall entitled A Mighty River of Song, and on 25 October 2007, she appeared at the BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms concert Once in a Blue Moon: A Tribute to Lal Waterson at Cecil Sharp House in London.

In 2007, Waterson replaced Eliza Carthy in Blue Murder, and made her concert debut with that group on 23 November at the Met Theatre in Bury, Greater Manchester.

In January 2010, Waterson performed at the Sydney Opera House in a line-up of rock, punk, pop and folk musicians under the musical direction of Hal Willner as part of his Rogue's Gallery project.

After signing to One Little Indian Records, in 2011 Waterson released the album The Days That Shaped Me, co-written with her brother Oliver Knight. Robin Denselow, in reviewing Hidden for The Guardian, described Waterson's singing as "no-nonsense, sometimes deadpan, but effectively varied" and stated that the album "sounds better each time you play it." Later reviewing Two Wolves for the website Freaky party, Denselow said that Waterson's "singing is plaintive and quietly powerful, and the songs are slow but varied".

Other artistic pursuits Waterson currently lives in Robin Hood's Bay, where she animates music videos, producing stage loops for Marc Almond. She has also worked as a graphic designer.

Discography

With Oliver Knight Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight: The Days That Shaped Me (2011) Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight: Hidden (2012)

With David Jaycock Marry Waterson & David A Jaycock: Two Wolves (2015) Marry Waterson & David A Jaycock: Death Had Quicker Wings Than Love (2017)

With Emily Barker Marry Waterson and Emily Barker: A Window to Other Ways (2019)

With Hack-Poets Guild (Lisa Knapp and Nathaniel Mann) Hack-Poets Guild: Blackletter Garland (2023)

With Adrian Crowley Marry Waterson and Adrian Crowley: Cuckoo Storm (2024)

Collaborations and guest appearances Lal & Norma Waterson: A True Hearted Girl (1977) Mike Waterson: Mike Waterson (1977) Lal Waterson & Oliver Knight: Once in a Blue Moon (1996) Lal Waterson & Oliver Knight: Bed of Roses (1998) Oliver Knight: Mysterious Day (2002) The Watersons: A Mighty River of Song (2004) Various artists: Evolving Tradition 4 (2004) Various artists: Rubber Folk: A Folk Tribute to the Beatles (2006) James Yorkston: When The Haar Rolls In (2008) Kathryn Williams: The Quickening (2009) Topic Records (70th anniversary boxed set): Three Score & Ten (2009) Eliza Carthy & Norma Waterson: Gift (2010) James Yorkston: I was A Cat From A Book (2011) Various artists: BBC Folk Awards (2012) Lisa Knapp: Hidden Seam (2013) (Lush) Fresh Handmade Sound: Hard Days Night Treatment (2014) A tribute to Ewan MacColl: Joy of Living (2015)

DVDs The Waterson Family: Live At Hull Truck (2011) James Yorkston: I Was A Cat From A Book, album & DVD (2011)