Little Johnnie England

Modern rock-folk - "rocking the English tradition". Saw them at Chester Festival 2002. Wow. Saw the box player Gareth with Phil Beer band. 

Celtarabia

Exciting blend of Celtic and Arabic music- hurdy-gurdy and hammered dulcimer. Enjoy their music, its something different.
 

Dubliners

The kings of the Irish song.  First heard their music in the late 60's. But only started collecting their CDs over the past couple of years. Click the Dubliners link to visit Terje OEye's semi-official website for info and tour dates. Click for  review on Birmingham 2000 Concert. Saw them in Dudley recently on their 40th Anniversary tour, great to see Ronnie and Jim with them.
 

Flook 
Saw Flook at Chester Festival 2002. Oh wow... am completely bowled over. Went to their Flute workshop - even tho I dont play flute or whistle. They were very easy to get on with. I use 'Flatfish' and 'Rubai' as my fast motoring music. Saw them again Feb 2003 at Whitchurch, Shropshire, minus John Joe who has a broken hand... trying to keep fit on his bicycle!
Show of hands
English acoustic music - STEVE KNIGHTLEY  and   PHIL BEER. Saw them at Warwick. Loved them, can see what all the fuss is about. 

Saw Phil Beer Band at the Birchmeadow Centre Broseley in Feb 2004. Brilliant Roots Rock. Great singing and music, pleanty of humour and the place was packed.

Corries 
Special favourites of mine. Wonderful voices of Roy and Ronnie.  Home page run by Ronnie Browne's son.

I have been a fan of the Corries since my college days.  Wish I had got to see them.

|Belshazzar's Feast
Paul Hutchinson & Paul Sartin.  Paul H also part of 'Hoover the Dog'. Love the 'Scratch & Sniff' CD.
Hoover the Dog
Well-known Borders trio, play a mixture of their own tunes + Irish & Breton.  New CD 'Scratch & Sniff' highly recommended.
Albion Band

"Following the Autumn 2002 tour the line-up of The Albion Band broke up. This was as a result of the shrinking number of gigs available to the band. This made it difficult for members to commit themselves full time to the group. Consequently, there are no current plans to continue with the band."

Altan

"Altan continue fresh in their vision of bringing the beauty and joy of traditional music to audiences everywhere". really enjoying their music.  I can play their version of the 'Ookpic Waltz' on the concertina.

 

New Rope String Band 

The Old Rope String Band (what is left of them: Pete Challoner and Tim Dalling) have joined forces with two amazing musicians (Jock Tyldesley and Vera van Heeringen) and as a four piece they are taking off from where the Old Ropes sadly stopped.

Saw ORSB in Much Wenlock in Autumn 2000... never stopped laughing all evening. Also at the Jackfield festival.  Behind the mayhem are very good musicians. They played in the session afterwards and were so encouraging.

 
Wild Welsh Women
Saw them at Bridgnorth 2000.

 

 

Bushburys
"With their familiar rootsy sound, contemporary songs and excellent musicianship they explore all the areas of acoustic rock, folk and blues with which they have been so successful in creating one of the UKs finest and most hardworking live acts."

Hekety 
"Formed in 1997, Hekety are an English Ceilidh band who play a mixture of traditional English, Celtic and European dance music with an increasing amount of self written material."
Battlefield Band
Great Scottish band, they have been going for over 30 years.
Firebrand
"Firebrand are a five piece band playing traditional music from the British Isles and beyond on acoustic instruments including harp, fiddle, flute, cittern and double bass. They are one of the fastest growing acts in the folk / celtic genre."  
Last Night's Fun
Double wow... Saw them at Chester Festival 2002 and Warwick 2002. Chris, Denny and Nick are dynamic. Chris' Anglo Concertina playing blows you away. The sense of fun and banter are ace. Wonderful website.

Blowzabella
"Blowzabella are a band who play hurdy-gurdies, bagpipes and an array of acoustic instruments to produce an inimitable, driving drone-based sound influenced by British and European traditional dance music."

original, inimitable, driving sound, see them do what they do best - playing great tunes for dancing.

Na Dorsa 

Excellent band, saw them at Warwick 2002. Singer has a lovely voice. 

Melstock Band

"Entertain with a unique combination of singing, instrumental music and spoken word, encompassing west gallery harmony, traditional songs, glees, dances, marches, poems and stories."

Hands on Music Weekends

CONCERTINAS AT WITNEY 24th - 25th September 2005 The Essential Gathering for English, Anglo and Duet Concertinas

 

An Anfa
The present line-up Steve Byng – lead guitar; Simon Davis – bass guitar, Tim Woodhall – Uilleann pipes, flute, whistle, melodeon and chief name finder, Nick Haynes – drums, mandolin and guitar and Dave Bruce Johnson - mandolin, violectra, dulcimer and banjo.

Tim Woodhall  Wonderful site introduces you to my friend Tim the piper.

SpinDwyers

Andrew Dwyer and Sheila Thackwray. "They perform on Keyboards and Guitar, not only self-penned compositions but some traditional songs."

 

20/07/2008
 

Over the years I've found a lot of websites for the bands.  I do update every so often and check the links. Many of the links were very out of date. Some of the groups have contacted me and I have been pleased to add them to the page.

Anything in quotes is taken from the artists website.

Dubliners picture on this page by Colm Henry.

If you would like to be added, email me and let me know.