Jenny Coxon, Paul Walker, John Harrison (Rising Sun Band)
Jeff Davis (occasional duo)
A bit of ragtime anglo concertina...
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Brian plays Child Ballad 17
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Influences
My Mum and Dad, The Incredible String Band, Steeleye Span, Harry Boardman, Roy Harris, The Copper Family, Pete Coe, Chris Coe, John Kirkpatrick, Clifton Chenier, Flaco Jimenez, Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, Ray Fisher, Sara Grey, The Watersons, Walter Pardon, Phil Tanner, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen, The Rolling Stones, Steve Reich, Robert Fripp, Brian Eno, Steve Earle, Jeff Davis, Richard Spencer, Mel Dean, and Ian Stewart & Ric Jones from Poynton Folk Club - to name but a few.
Page updated 6.9.08: New songs added and other general tinkering
I abandoned a not-very-promising career in biological science over twenty years ago for the fleshpots of the British Folk Scene (I can state without exaggeration that I was at one point one of the world's leading experts on the nervous system of the sea urchin - in an admittedly small field). Since then I've done umpteen rounds of the folk clubs and festivals, toured various bits of Europe, made several visits Down Under for festivals in Australia and New Zealand, and played regularly in the USA and Canada.
I've always had a thing about traditional songs and music, in particular the Child Ballads, although I'll have a go at all kinds of other stuff as well. I like to research material that no-one else is doing, whether an unfamiliar version of an ancient ballad, a dance tune from a local manuscript, or a bit of blues squeezebox. I've played guitar for more years than I care to remember, and owned my treasured Fylde for 25 of them, but many people know me better as a box player, since I play anglo-concertina and melodeon onstage and teach both of them regularly at workshop weekends.
I made albums for Fellside and Harbourtown before starting my own label, Pugwash (an ironic acknowledgement of a frequent and irksome tune request) on which I've released six CDs. These have ranged from wall-to-wall anglo concertina ("Anglophilia", released 2006) to the new one, "Songs of Trial and Triumph", which consists of fourteen Child Ballads, the ancient story songs of magic, treachery, blood and sex, which I think are the crown jewels of traditional British Folk Song. (I posted up a couple amidst my Myspace tunes).
Go to the website for more biography, more samples and full tour dates. Here's a few reviews to be going on with:
“Brian Peters has long been one of the very best performers in the field of English traditional song and music” Dirty Linen(USA)
“Terrific choice of songs, spot-on vocals, varied and immaculately played backings - a brilliant CD” The Living Tradition
“A singer with a long and distinguished track record” fROOTS
“A multi-talented musician and singer who just seems to get better and better each time I see or hear him…. his deep love of traditional music and song are there for all to see” Folk Northwest
“Brian Peters plunges deep into the ancient songs, finds their power, mystery, evil, drollery and courage, and brings them to us fresh” Cornell Unversity Folksong Society, USA
Hi Brian Thanks very much for becoming friends with The Living Tradition. We are re-launching our myspace to include more gig dates and news than it is possible to include in The Living Tradition magazine. To keep up to date with news and gigs from around the UK folk music scene please subscribe to our BLOG and our FRIEND UPDATES on your myspace home – and don't forget to tell us what you are up to. All the best The Living Tradition Team
Hi Brian! Just thought I'd drop by and say that I enjoyed the Ballad Workshop the other weekend ... always fun to sing them, listen to them and talk about them with like minded people!
I look forward to seeing you again at the Traditions Festival , and hope that we don't clash !! (:-) Regards Irene
Hi Brian..main web-site's great..brilliantly informative...If it's not too much of a cheek ..Rosa's are learning ballad 59 ..and doing with the dulcimer..tried with cittera ..but the key's wrong xx Suzi
Thanks very much for adding us to your friends. Some lovely folk songs on your page - it's good to know there's still people out there keeping them alive - have really enjoyed listening!
Brian, a belated thanks for adding us a friend. The house concert you performed for us in the states was just great. Am looking forward to getting a copy of your new ballad project. Hope to see you again soon.
Salut Brian Une belle musique que tu as dans les mains,ca fait penser aux chansons irlandaises C'est un bohneur d'écouter celà Merci de ton amitié mArCo
Noticed you had a couple of gigs in London, but unfortunately we were playing somewhere else on both days, otherwise we would have come along :) Hope they went well. Probably see you round soon, we'll have to buy a copy of your new album off you too.
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