Graeme Meek (Guitars, Bouzouki, Voice)
Barry Goodman (Melodeons, Concertina, Voice)
Influences
The English Tradition, John Kirkpatrick, Vin Garbutt, Jez Lowe, Music Hall, Tony Rose, Nic Jones, The Watersons, Martin Carthy, 'A Ballad History of England', Broadside Ballads, Graeme Miles
"This pair would go down well at any folk do that I know of" ROY HARRIS
Life and Times are Graeme Meek and Barry Goodman. Their early Fellside recordings were made when the group included Greg Lindsay, who left in the early 1990s and was replaced, briefly, by Sara Fox before Graeme and Barry decided to continue as a duo. They celebrated 20 years of their music in 2003 and feature in the ‘Guinness Book of Who’s Who in Folk’.
Their latest CD, Where The Working Boats Went, accompanies their new show of the same name which celebrates 250 years of the inland waterways system of England (1759-2009). Their previous CD, Charivari, features a set of songs and tunes based on the traditions, history, customs and people of Bedfordshire. Graeme and Barry are popular performers at Folk Festivals and folk clubs, concerts and sessions throughout the country.
Their songs have been sung by John Kirkpatrick and recorded by Carolyn Robson. Their music also appears on Ashley Hutchings' Grandson of Morris On and was used on Channel 4's 'The Canterville Ghost'. It is used to accompany dances by The Outside Capering Crew, Redbornstoke Morris and Sarum Morris as well as featuring in the living traditions of Redbornstoke Morris and The Brafront Guizers. In 2006 their music was used in Five Feet Films' The Bedfordshire Clanger. See www.thebedfordshireclanger.co.uk. You can also hear them on a YouTube slideshow at the Wareham Court Leet website www.precisionproductions.com/wheatley/CourtLeet/.
In 2006 Life & Times branched out in a new direction, taking their traditional idiom music into schools to teach youngsters about our history, traditions and heritage. The shows include audience participation, song, music and dance, historical information and a visual presentation of old and new photographs, choruses etc.
If you’d like the KS1, KS2 or KS3 (up to Year 8) children in your local school to try acting a Mummers’ Play or have a go at Morris or Molly dancing, look at our sister site on www.lifeandtimes.org.uk for more information. We currently have several shows: Hats Off To History - available tri-annually with More Hats Off To History and Yet More Hats Off To History, Frost & Rhyme, a winter show available tri-annually from November 1st to the end of December with Year's End, and Winter Days, and The Cold Days of Winter (January - March).
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Appreciate you letting us be friends. It would be nice to catch-up at Broadstairs. We tend to stay till the end so we could well catch you at the Nelson on the 12th. Best Wishes, Okee Dokee.
This years festival is headlined by Billy Bragg (Friday), Seth Lakeman (Sunday) and Peatbog Faeries (Saturday) with many more top artists also performing incl the award winning The Demon Barbers.
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Thanks for the friendship.
