Play or Sing, read a Poem, tell a Story, listen, fetch the beer, anything
You may have seen Vicki (Scottish smallpipes, flute, vocals; also double-bass) and Jonny (vocals, guitar, accordion, low whistle) at Winchester, Broadstairs, Whitby, or at many other Festivals. If so, you'll remember Vicki's unique "spell-bindingly beautiful and haunting" smallpipes, harmonising delightfully with Jonny's brightly alive guitar - and he's a lovely singer. Both compose fascinating originals (and win national competitions) or create innovative new slants on traditional tunes and they also run highly-valued workshops as well as performing with the band ‘SeriousKitchen'. One quote says they are "skilled, funny and never dull" and another advises "don't let this outfit pass you by"! Some of the enthusiasts' opinions:
Vicki Swan [is] the principle exponent of the Scottish Smallpipes ‘
south of the border.
(What's Afoot June 05)
Scatter Pipes ... showcases Vicki's excellent piping
skills and Jonny's incredible talent as a tune writer.... this is a CD
I will definitely have in my car to play loudly with the hood down!
(LBPS June 05)
Scatter Pipes ... the instruments blend together
SUBLIMELY. .. mesmeric flute .. An album for lazy summer afternoons, or
winter evenings by the fire.
(Kevin's Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews - July 05)
Vicki’s Scottish smallpipes are so persuasive that
they almost make me want to dash out and buy a set!
(Dai Woosnam)
"truly stunning" (Bagpipe Society)
"scintillating tunes with spirit and verve" (Rambles.net)
"an important milestone in the development and evolution of Scottish Smallpipe music and arrangement"
"fine musicianship"
(Living Tradition)
"spell binding" (Netrhythms)
Play or Sing, read a Poem, tell a Story, listen, fetch the beer, anything
Equally at home with melodeon, guitar, cittern or unaccompanied, Ed's songs, tunes and ballads are drawn mainly from the English tradition, but he also merrily plunders elsewhere. His first solo CD ‘Narrative' recorded by Fellside (tracks played on Radio 2) confirms him as a "first class interpreter sending his audiences home relaxed and happy". As well as performing solo, he plays melodeon for The (famous) Bismarcks and bass for The Dartmoor Pixie Band and also as a duo with Jackie Oates (2003 finalist Radio 2 Young Folk Awards).
"with his off the wall sense of humour Ed is a lot funnier than he looks"
Lawrence Heath, Electric Voices
Play or Sing, read a Poem, tell a Story, listen, fetch the beer, anything
Contact
Back to Fo'c'sle February 2006 Programme
On to Fo'c'sle April 2006 Programme
Back to Fo'c'sle 2005-2006 Programme Summary
Web Design © Wessex Antithesis 2004 - simple solutions to simple problems.