A Somerset lad, with a strong voice, Steve will always give you a story to go with a song. He spent many a happy year living and working in Australia, and has brought some of it back home by hosting Australia Day: a BBQ and cricket match - in January would you believe! When he's not working on his land at the mill he's researching and learning folk songs.
He is currently learning to play the ukulele, and will surely soon outshine Hendrix on it. |
Alan started his sojourn into music after Father Christmas brought him an electric fan reed organ when he was around seven years old. It did, however, become redundant when the Beatles came on the scene and the only instrument he craved was a six-string guitar. Not wanting to wait for Father Christmas he fashioned a home-made guitar from an old wooden door and a single cheese-wire. Unfortunately this would only play one tune – Pictures of Matchstick Men – and so it also became redundant. When eventually he could afford a real guitar the genre of music that caught his interest was that of the likes of Dylan and so his journey towards folk music began.
Alan’s main hobby is music and he is a member of several bands who play just for the fun of it. He has been a member of the Rockingham Folk Group where he had to learn several other instruments besides the six-string guitar. As a member of Tog Mor, a band named after the crane-tug that recovered the Marie Rose, more exotic instruments such as the Charango and Quena were involved in the arrangements. He has also been a member of Between the Lines, Crow Jane, The Signifyers, Hummingbird, The FFS Band, and Marshall & Dolby. Current bands are Culpepper’s Catch (Barn Dance Band), Zeitgeist (folk influenced but more eclectic), The Merry Molars (20’s to 80’s easy listening), Reel Thyme (Irish and Scottish folk), Dean & Co( folk, country, 60s) and of course the a capella group The Lincolnshire Poachers. |
When he's not tearing around the countryside on his motorbike, David has promoted a number of plays and folk artists at the West Deeping village hall. He has secured the appearance of a number of world class artists including Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston, Sam Sweeny and Hannah James (no relation). He has been a regular member of local folk clubs and has taken part in traditional song competitions. He has an extensive knowledge of folk music. So will always compliment the songs he brings to the group with their story. His earthy tones give the group an authentic timber, though he would say that he is only in it to bring the average age down. Oh and that it mostly involves going to pubs, drinking and singing a few songs.
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Dave has been singing since the age of 7 when his teacher recorded him singing Beatles songs. He then sang in his school choir and the choir of St.Peter's Church in St.Albans. His early folk influences stemmed from the Sidmouth Folk Festivals of the late 60s and playing on the beaches of Ladram Bay. He has sung in many clubs including Robin Hoods Bay, The Goat in St.Albans, and around southern Lincolnshire where he now lives. He plays guitar, harmonica, violin, mandolin, bouzouki, ukulele, and a bit of whistle, and has armed himself with a concertina. His claim to fame is that he once jammed on stage with The Detroit Emeralds backing band at Baileys nightclub in Watford in the early 70s. And, although he is musically self-taught he has had some guidance from the likes of John Renbourn and Martin Carthy. He also competed at the Melody Maker National Folk and Rock Contest in Hendon in the 70s with his band Silver.
Dave has fronted a number of blues bands such as Smokehouse and The Signifyers Rhythm and Blues Band. |