Isabel -- Vocals.
Ian -- Guitar, Mandolin, backing Vocals.
Influences
Everything from Mozart to Motorhead! But specifically Fairport, Meet on the Ledge, Ralph McTell, Steve Tilston, annA rydeR, Jim Malcolm & Old Blind Dogs, (for material ideas) Tintagel & all the lovely people we have met through Warwick & Glenfarg Folk Clubs (for encouragement & confidence to "give it a try")
Ian began learning guitar from the age of 12 (his brief introduction to violin was strangled at birth by his family...Theres only so much an ear can take!!) He continued learning by himself after 2 yrs of lessons from a Shadows fanatic and spent his teens forming various bands with mates from school & youth club. They were the scourge of church halls around Coventry - no-one was spared... Isabel had no musical leanings during childhood, athough she enjoyed the school choir, but she was raised with a wide variety of music playing on the stereo: Dvorak, Beatles, The Corries and Dave Brubeck to name a few!
We were introduced to Fairport by a friend, round about '92, when we were given copies of Red & Gold and Liege & Leif. From that we discovered Cropredy & became regular Happy Campers there each August. It was there that we first saw Meet on the Ledge & were hooked. Still we were merely spectators, never imagining that we could play for people too. The change came during 2005, when Isabel discovered the celtic harp and had some lessons and Ian dusted off his guitar and began learning new songs. He made friends with a couple of music shop owners (or "dealers" as we now know the correct term is...) Ian got his first mandolin & Isabel got her own harp. It was a logical step to Warwick Folk Club & getting up to have a go at our first Singers Night.
From there we visited several different Folk Clubs in the area & saw some really talented amateur/semi-pro musicians. The approval we got & good constructive critism helped our confidence & skills to grow. The Glenfarg Folk Club is our new Folk family now, up here in the Kingdom of Fife. We will always have to keep our day jobs, but as hobbies go, we wouldn't be without it. It's the best feeling in the world to be able to contribute our own favourite songs at ceilidhs & any gatherings of friends.
Good Health & Good Folk to you!
A final call to get your music uploaded to www.topoftheox.co.uk and list / update your gigs. Win one of the biggest prizes in UK music today. Win an album deal, UK tour, merchandise, radio play, music video and much more
Greetings fellow performers! You will have the honour of performing with me @the next Folk In The Hoose. I'd be happy to share a few of my tricks of the trade with you - we moles really know how to rock!
Hi Guys- thanks for the friend request- happy to 'befriend' you. I have lovely memories of both Warwick AND Glenfarg folk clubs- you sure know how to find the best clubs!!
BTW- I love your baby backing singer on Warwick Road!
Hi Ian and Isabel thanks for droping in.Ah! Leige and Leif changed my life and got me into this folkie stuff all those years ago along with The Bert Jansch Sampler and Archie Fishers "Fate O' Charlie' All the best.Mick.
hello! THank you very much for the capo and for coming to see us tonight! Hope you had a nice evening and sorry I never got the chance to chat! Suzy XX
