 Background
Biography
I first started playing guitar when I was 14 - it was a horrid red thing which was incredibly difficult to play.
I was influenced by the whole tide of new music that was emerging from Liverpool and also the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys. I heard two guys playing clawhammer on acoustic guitars in the theatre at school and from then on it was the Clancy Brothers, Peter Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon.
A chance encounter with a friend's brother who was back home from uni brought me to the music of Davy Graham, Bert Jansch and John Renbourn. My first year at university saw me a regular visitor to the Highcliffe Folk club in Sheffield avidly watching the left hand and fingers of Al Stewart, John Martyn, Ralph McTell and Wizz Jones. Friday nights would find me on the train to London with a weekend return spending Friday and Saturdays at Les Cousins in Greek Street then wandering bleary eyed around the guitar shops in Charing Cross Road.
In my final year at university I discovered traditional music and became heavily influenced by the playing of Martin Carthy and Nic Jones. I played the “English style” of guitar accompaniment for several years before music took a back seat to the demands of a professional career and a family.
I played sporadically at home until 2003 when a friend encouraged me to start playing and performing again - the story behind it is in the song 'Isabella Dances' on the 'Adelaide Street' CD. You can catch up with me either at the Topic Folk Club in Bradford, where I am one of their “residents”, or else at Otley Folk Club and sometimes at the famous BACCApipes.
I was encouraged to write my own material by Allan Taylor who remains a strong influence on my writing and a very good friend. Present day influences on my playing and songwriting are many and varied; Richard Thompson, Allan Taylor, Russ Barenberg, Chris Newman, Ry Cooder, Missisippi Fred McDowell, Bukka White, Anthony John Clarke, Brian Sutton and Martin Simpson.The list runs through contemporary to bluegrass but at the end of the day its only the music that really matters not the label.
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Recordings
My first album 'Adelaide Street' was completed in May 2008. Recorded over a two year period at Studio One in Chester-le-Street. It was produced and engineered by the brilliant Ron Angus who has worked with the likes of Jez Lowe, Bob Fox, Billy Mitchell, Steve Tilston and Tom McConville.
The album features Tom McConville on violin, Allan Taylor on guitar and Jim Bullock on harmonica with Joss Elliott on double bass.
You can buy the album from my Music page - enjoy.
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Guitars
For the guitar anoraks among you... the instruments I usually play publicly are a Lowden F35 in cocobolo and swiss spruce, a Martin 00018 and occasionally a Collings OM2. All of these instruments have wonderful tone and project well. The Lowden is particularly suitable for open tunings and the Martin is light and comfortable to play having a slightly shorter scale length.
For songwriting and some recording I use a Santa Cruz 00. This is a lovely sweet sensuous guitar but it lacks the projection and punch needed for use in public performances.
My other instrument is a Chinese resonator guitar - a copy of a national O style which is very loud and is the nearest thing to attempting to make music on an Aga! Resonator guitars are similar to old motorcycles - they create addictions and obsessions - if the bug bites then see my Links page.
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Gigs, Bookings, etc
Unlike some performers I don’t intend to do a long list of planned floorspots claiming them to be paid gigs. I am around reasonably regularly at clubs around Bradford and the West Yorkshire area when Professsional commitments permit - my “day job” is actually quite demanding.
I am always happy to do featured supports and small clubs and also charity functions - the best thing is to send me an e-mail and we can sort something out!
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