Joint Sidmouth Folk Festival Young Musician of the Year 2006 with Brian Haitz.
All-Scotland and All-Britain Fiddle Champion.
Interviewed on the BBC's Culture Show Nov 2006 and BBC Points West June 2006.
Recently guested with James Fagan.
Born in Durham, NE East England, 1985.
Took up the fiddle aged 9 at school.
First gig aged 10 with my brother Paul and sister Ruth and dad John.
Moved to Scotland (Dumfries & Galloway) aged 13 and studied classical violin and piano at the Junior Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, between the ages of 13-17.
Joined the school ceilidh band, Celtic Caboodle, played on stage with Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham aged about 15.
Dumfries and Galloway Young Musician of the Year 2001.
Won 2nd prize in the Junior RSAMD Strings Competition 2001.
Formed inventive folk/roots band "Choonz" with Brian Haitz in 2006.
BRIAN HAITZ
Joint Sidmouth Folk Festival Young Musician of the Year 2006 with David
Garner.
Born and grown in Baden-Baden, SW Germany, to German mother and Irish
father.
Brought up with Irish Trad, learned the tin whistle aged 4
and played on stage from age 8. Moved on to the flute at the age of 10
with the
occasional lesson by e.g. Eamon Cotter. Played in traditional band
"Ceolta Eirinn"
from the age 8 to 16, aswell as playing gigs with, Alsace-based, Irish
band
"Ha'penny Bridge" later.
Took up guitar aged 14 under the influence of french dadgad-guitarist
Patrick Duboue.
Teaches guitar regularly at various festivals.
Guitar playing varies from melody accompaniment over powerfull rhythmic
strumming on to soft fingerpicking.
Influences from blues, jazz, bluegrass and rock can be heard
in chording patterns.
Style is often described as laid-back but yet aggressive as can be.
PAUL GARNER
Multiple All-Scotland and All-Britain Champion junior and senior titles on tin whistle, low whistle (miscellaneous) and clarinet (miscellaneous).
Winner of Newcastleton music festival tin whistle tiltle, 1998.
Interviewed on RTE at the All Ireland in Listowel.
Has guested with Tim Edey of the Sharon Shannon Band.
Born in Durham, NE East England, 1982.
Took up the tin whistle aged 8.
First gig aged 10 or so probably, backing Kelly's Heroes.
Whilst in Durham, a member of Robin Dunn's Redheughers ceilidh band.
Age 14, first started attending Folkworks summer schools, Durham, studying with Brian Finnegan, Niall Keegan, Gary Shannon among others. Moves to Scotland.
Age 16 - produces first CD 'Unreel' with Tim Edey (who has gone on to work with Sharon Shannon band, Lunasa et. al) and Phillippe Barnes (All Jigged Out/Blackthorn Band/ Wish Hill).
Brief stint as member of Scottish traditional band 'The Gallovidians'
Aged 20, first formal musical collaboration 'Bluey' - duo album with David Garner.
Summer 2007, meets Brian Haitz and of course Dave at Sidmouth folk festival. First gig guesting with the then two-piece Choonz happened at an open-mic in Duke's, Sidmouth, followed by a gig somewhere the hell in Bristol a couple of days later: recorded as 'Choonz-Sidmouth Sessions'.
And of course, it was all downhill from there(!)
Discography: 1998 - Unreel (Wish Records) -out of print
2002 - Bluey (with David Garner) - available upon request, out of print.
July 2007 - Sidmouth Sessions - available upon request (for afficionados only who want to hear the band's first proper gig)
Early 2008 - Choonz Live in Clapton-in-Giordano
Summer 2008 -Choonz Live at the Wodanhalle DVD [RELEASE PENDING!!!]
-Lads of Lash [RELEASE PENDING!!!]
... acoustic house concert in Clapton-in-Gordano ...
Thanks for all your support! The show went really well at the Laugh Factory, and the turnout was great!
If you couldn't make it, I have uploaded to my profile seven ten-minute segments from this outstanding variety show featuring Old Time Music, magic, dance, comedy and fun!
Love your jazzy take on these choonz! Thanks for the add from a more staid, but very appreciative audient - Vonnie from 2 Bits (hammered dulcimer and piano)
Hi Guys thanks for the add. A wee bird tells me you will be in Penpont over Christmas. If you're here at the New Year there's a great session in the Craigdarroch, Moniaive, from about 1pm. See www. moniaive. org. uk Musicians come from all over the county.
Hi Choonz, thanks for adding me as a friend. I've spent all of the afternoon working out the first tune in the McArthur Road set. It's a good job these on-line vidoes don't wear out like the old video tapes did.
Hi choonz, i saw you playing at ferrara buskers festval where i played for 3 days! I love your music and i thank you so much for the add!!!kisses from monika and i hope we'll can meet soon personally!monika!
Hi, thanks for the add..i really liked you in Ferrara last friday!!! Do you remember me? I was the silly girl who asked for a photo with you! i uploaded that photo into my profile. let's take a look. peace!
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