The Ratcatchers

Eliza Carthy MBE
Carthy on stage at the 2011 Wychwood Festival
Background information
Born	(1975-08-23) 23 August 1975 (age 42)
Genres	English folk music
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, violin, viola, melodeon, piano, guitar, tenor guitar, ukulele
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Mrs Casey Records Topic Records Warner Bros. Records Heroes of Edible Music
Associated acts	The Watersons The Waterdaughters Nancy Kerr Waterson–Carthy Blue Murder Salsa Celtica The Imagined Village
Website	www.watersoncarthy.com www.eliza-carthy.com

Eliza Carthy, MBE (born 23 August 1975) is an English folk musician known for both singing and playing fiddle. She is the daughter of English folk musicians singer/guitarist Martin Carthy and singer Norma Waterson.

Carthy was born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. She went to school at Fyling Hall School in North Yorkshire.

At the age of thirteen Carthy formed the Waterdaughters with her mother, aunt (Lal Waterson) and cousin Marry Waterson. She has subsequently worked with Nancy Kerr, with her parents as Waterson–Carthy, and as part of the "supergroup" Blue Murder, in addition to her own solo work.

She has twice been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize for UK album of the year: in 1998 for Red Rice, and again in 2003 for Anglicana. Eliza was a guest on the album Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg and Wilco. Eliza and Billy also recorded together on the song "My Father's Mansions" which appeared on the Pete Seeger tribute album called Where Have All The flowers Gone (1998).

In September 2002 Eliza took part in the Tribute concert for Kirsty MacColl, "The Song's the Thing" along with other artists.

In 2003 Eliza swept the boards at the Radio 2 Folk Awards, winning Folk Singer of the Year, Best Album (for Anglicana) and Best Traditional Track (for "Worcester City", on the album Anglicana). She was also the first traditional English musician to be nominated for a BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music in the same year (for Anglicana).