Liz Hextall : (Flute)
After years of asking Santa for a piccolo, it was recommended that Elizabeth should try the recorder first, so during her first week at infant school, her teacher was good enough to give her individual lessons. Having mastered most of the instrument by going up to primary school, the flute (the piccolo's bigger friend) was the next on the agenda. Due to no instrument availability she was forced to try the trumpet.This lasted briefly because her front teeth fell out!
Next was the violin which was hopeless. The Head teacher then decided that because she couldn't read music properly and did everything by ear, Elizabeth had no musical ability whatsoever. Private flute tuition followed (ahem!) and flute grade 5 passed with merit before leaving Primary school. Eat your words Headmaster.At the age of 14 liz was playing in John Cleveland college concert band, touring Europe frequently and also assissting a music teacher on Saturday mornings, thus leading to the only job she's ever known or done, private music tuition in flute, clarinet, sax, keyboard, recorder, and music theory. This, incidently, leads the ex-Head teacher to comment "How well you've done for yourself" everytime they bump into one another.After eight years of putting up with the band bullies, Liz had had enough and left to concentrate on playing with the Heart of England Recorder Orchestra of which she is still a Lead descant.
Other forays have included 'Three Piece Suite' a wind trio with her friends from the J.C.C band, jamming at the Burbage 'Cross Keys' Irish session, gatecrashing 'Bodgers Mate' gigs and folk nights with Jim Hiron's in Sharnford. Liz joined Black Rat in May 2003 after some prodding by Tony Haggis and is learning how to master a microphone.
Steve Hamilton : (Mandolin, Vocals)
Some of the first things people ask when they meet me is "What was Nick Drake like?" and
"Why did you leave London?" I tell them that Nick was a good lad and that I left because I had
outgrown the suburbs.
My Mother was musical so I may have got something from her side of the Family. She was brought up in
pre-war Germany, but hers is more of a love of the classics than of Traditional music.
It seems a great shame to me that the English either don't realise that they have a musical heritage,
or they feel it is something to be ashamed of. I think it was Joe Boyd who said that we had probably been
told that our heritage was worthless, initially by the Normans, and that theirs was much better and that we
should look up to them. We don't seem to have recovered yet.
When I was young I used to spend a lot of my sleeping hours up near the ceiling of my bedroom,
presumably in some 'out of body' experience. I can't do it now, but then I am much taller and can reach
the ceiling if I need to anyway.
Working with Black Rat is a bit like going to see one's Grandmother. She gives you ice cold milk in cup
with sugar so it tastes sweet. Her kitchen cupboard smells of desiccated coconut and 'Down Your Way' is always
on the radio when you turn up at her house on Sunday.
I love it!
Jamie Marlow(Lead Guitar/Mandolin/Vocals
Born within a stones throw of Heathrow Airport, so always liked noisy things, planes, trains, electric guitars, ("What's that?").
Mostly played rock and blues guitar so this is a relatively new departure, although I've always listened to and admired folk based music and musicians.
Looking forward to a long and fruitful career as a Rat!
Biggest problem is going to be avoiding breaking a leg whilst negotiating a rather large box of strange guitar effects pedals!
Tony Haggis : (Fretless 5 String Bass and Soldering Iron)
CD Replication Company: “ we are just checking we have licences for the all fonts you used on the CD cover .. we don’t recognise the font you used for the title .. what is it? ”
Tony: “ Black & Decker Router Font “
Playing bass in Black Rat seems a minor part of my duties – I mainly get to do the more techie jobs like fixing leads and equipment – serves me right for telling them I am an electrical engineer. However, I did get to design the Black Rat logo and do the CD artwork. It’s amazing what PhotoShop can do.
For less arty minded here is some tedious technical info on the equipment I use:
Bass Warwick Streamer 5 string fretless
Strings Rotosound Tru-Bass RL88 black flat-wound
Strap A nice piece of leather I cut 5 inches wide –
5 string bass is bloody heavy !
Gimmicks LED fret markers – black strings on a black
fretless fingerboard in the dark corner of the
stage – I need at least some help !
Thanx go to www.FretFX.com
Amp Eden Nemesis NC320 4x10 320 watt combo –
it certainly shifts some air whilst being light
enough to shift J
Pedal Board:
Korg DT10 tuner
Boss LM-2B Bass Limiter
Boss GEB-7 Bass Equaliser
Boss CE-2B Bass Chorus
Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Post effects pre-amp – feeds the bass drum mic into the amp
– keeps the engine room tight.
Tony Haggis I. Eng. M.I.T.E D.M.S.
(you can get these sorts of letters after your name if you don’t piss about in science class at school)
Rick Cox : (Drums/Vocals)
Equipment
Plays Premier & Mapex Orion Drums, Paiste, Zildjan & Istanbul cymbals, Seamus Okane Bodhrans
Previous Bands include
Stretch (Dream in Colour),They call her faith,Inside moves,Radio Talkshow,
The Heist.
Influences
Steve-Folk
Rick-Pop/Rock
Liz-Big Band/Folk/Classical
Tony-Folk/African Zydeco
Jamie-Blues/Folk
These are just the genres of groups we have played in but we have influences from all over the musical spectrum.
Check out this video: Black Rat@The Alchemist
Formed in the Autumn of 2002, Black Rat are a 5 piece band that blend folk and rock music with an emphasis on English traditional styles of song and dance.
Their debut album,"Telling!Tales", contains 9 songs by the band and 3 instrumental sets which celebrate some of the history of England's past.
Woven Wheat Whispers said - Its funny how things happen sometimes. I was having a pint recently with an old friend of mine and the topic of conversation moved onto some of the great folk-rock bands from years past. We reminisced fondly about Steeleye and Fairport, we discussed Pyewackett, Ragged Heroes and Spriguns and with the possible exception of Show Of Hands, agreed there were actually very few new bands coming through who could create that special blend of British folk music and classic rock. Two days later, the album from Black Rat arrived and it quickly disproved my theory that great folk-rock has almost died out.
This five-piece band formed in 2002 and recorded their debut album over the winter of 2005, releasing it to the public in May 2006. Their sound brings to mind all the afore mentioned groups and with the addition of some excellent flute playing from Liz Hextall you can also add mid 70s Jethro Tull to the list. John English adds some gloriously rocking electric guitar to the proceedings, while mandolin player Steve Hamilton delivers some workmanlike vocals that have both a folk edge and the guts to pull off the fusion of rock and folk styles. Backline duties are handled by Tony Haggis (bass) and Rick Cox (drums). Both prove themselves to be versatile players and equally at home with quieter numbers or meatier, up-tempo tracks.
This 12-track album will have a wide appeal across the folk community and the three tracks offered as samples below will give you a good idea of the groups diversity. My Familiars Names Are is a near seven minute instrumental track split into three parts comprising a hornpipe, an air and a reel, this gives each player the chance to stretch his or her wings and give a contemporary twist to the traditional dance styles.
Grey Daylight is a calm, atmospheric song that deals with the tragedy of a man facing a dawn firing squad during the Great War. Simple but thought provoking, this is a track that begs to be more widely heard.
The Elder Tree is the longest track on the album and its subject matter is that of faerie enchantment. The combination of light and exquisite flute work with powerful electric guitar makes an intoxicating sound and full marks must be given to engineer Angus Wallace for capturing both the power and finesses of Ricks drumming. This is as good a folk rock song as youre ever likely to hear and is one of many gems in this wonderful collection of songs
Aww sorry to hear that Liz.. typical I will look forward to hearing more current cds soon I saw you all at a pagan gig and bought the cd off your stall..oooh 5 years ago... I am still catching up with technology in general and your cd lasted longer than my cd player.. sigh. Blessing to all Ally
Hey Liz! It's so lovely to hear from you. How are you? Hope you're ok. It'd be great to come and see u play a festival. Are they still taking acts on? I'm organising a gig at the musician in leicester! Do you want to come? It's the 17th June. :)I'll let you know nearer the time about it when I'm selling tickets xxx
Hello there, cats and kittens - and thanks awfully for accepting CrackTown's grimy paw of friendship as opposed to crapping copiously into it. Some have, sad to say - acoustic liberalbilly shctick is perhaps an acquired taste... So: acquire it! Keep it gangsta, CrackTown
just stopping by to see if you're interested in our project....
We've started a collaborative radio station - and we're looking for people to contribute to our output....have a look, have a listen and join up if you'd like to join in!!!
Hey Liz :) I so can't wait!!! I've completely forgot to call the sharnford arms to arrange a date, I must do that. How are you? Hope all is good, lots of love Kristyna x
I'm gonna miss you :( I'm back in Manchester after the 27th gigging. Gotta catch up in the New Year then!! Have an amazing time in Brussels! lots of love Kristyna xxx
Hey Liz, here are the church dates... it'd be wicked to see you there. 23rd December carols by candlelight 4-5 or 630-745 Christmas eve carols and communion by candlelight 1115pm-christmas day
Hey Liz, you're absolutely right about not crying cause it's over but smiling cause it happened. That's the best way of looking at it! I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into my own music now. Hope you're ok, you definitely rubbed off on me! best wishes
Hey Liz! So great to hear from you.You're an amazing teacher what can I say,thats why your pupils go on to do well! I would have loved to come to the meal on the 20th, I'm still in Manchester gigging then at the casino. All the best for the recorder group, you'd do an awesome job. Do you wanna come to sutton in the elmes to a carol concert? We could catch up then? xxx
Hey good to hear from ya. Fab summer thanx + slowly getting a few gigs booked up for the autumn etc. You playing round our way anytime soon? love Rosie x
Just to say... All the best for the future and may the band go from strength to strength. We have really enjoyed the year you have spent with us and would gladly welcome you back, should you realise that you just miss us to much. ;) Anyway good luck...
