Hips and Haws English Country Dance Band: General Info
Member Since
3/26/2008
Band Members
The original band members met at the old Cartwheel Folk Club in Crediton, Devon, initially at the Dartmoor Railway Inn and then at the White Swan, where, back in the autumn of 1977, they started playing together on slow evenings, progressed to practises at the Crediton Drama Centre or in local pubs and in January 1978 played their first dance booking in Newton St Cyres Village Hall. Original members still with the band are John (accordion) & Wendy Wilson (accordion & electric piano), Ken Breeze (caller), and Cliff Jones (Bass). John & Wendy have been involved continuously while Cliff left the band to work abroad in 1981 but rejoined on his return to Devon in 1997. Ken called regularly until 2005 when health problems caused him to ease off.
The rest of the current line up are Linda Breeze (caller) who joined quite soon after the start, Hilary Hamilton (trombone) who stepped in when Cliff left in 1981, Phil Cutler (percussion) who joined the band in 1993 and Robert Barber (whistle) who first played in 1983 and has been a floating member of the band ever since as personal & professional commitments have allowed. In 2005 Sue Hamer-Moss joined as an additional caller.
For anyone who has not yet experienced an evening with Hips & Haws, the infectious rhythms of the music which are heard regularly throughout the South West, and sometimes as far away as Normandy, drive the dancing, while even inexperienced dancers have a good time, learning fast thanks to the skill and patience of the bands resident callers. Their music, mainly traditional, is from around the UK and the rest of the world, but has a particular emphasis on the West Country. They can be heard at barn dances and ceilidhs organised for weddings, charity fundraisers, anniversaries, businesses, parties and twinning events.
CONTACT US under MUSICIANS in Exeter and East Devon Yellow Pages (except 2007/8 edition - accidentally left out) or online at YELL.COM under MUSICIANS in DEVON. Unfortunately e-mail is not accessed regularly, so please, phone only for bookings.
"Tapping Toes Since 1978"
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