The 2007 Performers (continued).
John Kirkpatrick
Appearing
solo and with his band Mr Gubbins Bicycle, John, a former member of the Albion
Country Band, is probably Britain’s
best-known exponent of the Anglo concertina. He has been a constant of the
English folk scene for over 30 years, playing on the seminal folk rock album
Morris On, with Ashley Hutchings, and later on The Compleat Dancing Master. He
works frequently with guitar and song-writing maestro Richard Thompson, and is a
long-standing member the Shropshire Bedlams, probably the most original,
influential, and innovative Morris side to appear for years. He is also a
founder member of the innovative and highly distinctive Brass Monkey - a band
which captures the feel of the times with its blend of traditional music - and
was a member of the ill-starred folk supergroup Band Of Hope, with Roy Bailey,
Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick. He also has a long history of work in the
theatre, and with Sidmouth Folk Festival. He said: “I've always loved English
music and dance. I think it's tragic that English music is so often
undervalued.” His band, Mr Gubbins’ Bicycle, is named after a tune he wrote
after buying a bicycle, and includes most of his family, with Sally Kirkpatrick
on percussion, son Benji on bouzouki and guitar, son Jobie on bass, and Martin
Britnell on trombone and whistle.
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Winter Wilson
Lincolnshire pairing Kip Winter and Dave Wilson are one of the most popular duos
in the region. They got together in 1990 at the Nag’s Head in Sleaford, to form
Ragtrade, and built a reputation for great songs and tunes, energetic
performances and a huge amount of fun. They became Winter Wilson 12 years ago,
playing mainly original songs and carefully chosen covers. Now they find other
performers are covering their work.
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Something Nasty in the Woodshed
Coming last only by chance, this band is high on the new wave of folk rock
bands. A great way to describe them is in their own words. They: “Take the reels
and jigs from the attics of their ancestors and plug them into the National
Grid. With songs of Jacobean derring-do and seagoing grief, they bring a
refreshing blast of tempo to the folk traditions of the British Isles.” That
about sums it up. This five-piece includes guitar and bagpipes (but not usually
both at the same time), and they appeared at the Whitby Festival Hiring Fair two
years ago.
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Nancy Kerr & James Fagan
This
well-loved duo combine highly skilful and innovative performance with
accessibility, warmth and stage presence. Rarely are duos so full in sound;
Nancy’s earthy and exquisite fiddle and viola playing dances with the striking
rhythmic texture of James’s guitar-bouzouki, while their rich singing both as
soloists and in harmony evokes the stories of the songs they choose and write.
They approach their music with energy and infectious smiles. Rapid musical
communication with one another and the audience makes their performance
spectacular and unforgettable.
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