Roger at the Fo'c'sle
Well-known for 'Roots Progress' and as the Artistic Director of TAPS, Roger is also a superb player of melodeon and English concertina and has an attractive singing voice. Roger creates individual versions of traditional songs as well as performing them 'straight', and with a few instrumentals as well as some ringing choruses, this promises to be a fulfilling (and fun) evening. Roger had to postpone his previous gig at the Fo'c'sle after a heart attack caused not least by overwork, so let's welcome him all the more on this occasion. |
Some of you may know me through this, others may remember me for bands such as Muckram Wakes, the New Victory Band and Chequered Roots in the '70s and '80s.
Even others may know me through my melodeon and concertina tutors, which are still selling widely after nearly 20 years!
I still use melodeon as my main instrument, but not to "hack out tunes" (although the occasional instrumental may creep into the set) and also some English concertina.
I still sing songs from mainly traditional sources, plus some from my own pen and those of other writers.
I still like to present songs with some humour in the presentation, but a respect for the seriousness of the subject when it is due.
I prefer to work without P.A. and most of all, to be able to build contact with an informal audience. That's why I miss the folk clubs and would like to sing at some again. It's a sort of New Year's resolution.
Since 1989 I have been the Artistic Director of TAPS, Traditional Arts Projects, which is a community and education folk project, working all over the Southern Arts region (Milton Keynes to the Isle of Wight) and have been involved in devising, setting up and leading projects which have, for the most part been aimed at people who are not likely to be attracted by the usual 'folk' circuit but could access traditional music and dance in other ways. As such, I've probably done more playing than ever (and been able to give up the day job), working with community groups, schools, professionals from other music genres and mixing my English traditional songs, tunes and dances with classical, jazz rock and 'world' music, and proving to the devotees of those styles that we have a tradition, too. As well as all over UK, this work has taken me to France, Chile, Norway and into links with India and West Africa.
But I still find the acoustic immediacy of a folk club the most stimulating place to play; so I've decided to take a few evenings 'off' and revisit the circuit where I learned most of my trade. I sing regularly in Bracknell's singaround club, but I've got an interesting set together to do some gigs.
I play Melodeon and English Concertina and I sing. I am also a songwriter and have spent some time creating my own individual versions of traditional songs. I also sing 'straight' trad, some totally original in trad. style and songs from other writers. An instrumental or two could creep into each set and there'll be a fair amount of chorus opportunity for those that will. (Do yours?) I am a dance caller as well, but I promise I won't unless pressed to do so.