Philip G Martin; Songwriter, hurdy-gurdy, voice, bagpipes, cittern, guitar etc.
Alexi Nonis; Cretian lira, jews harp.
Geoff Huggins; Bass clarinett, sax, early woodwind.
Jon Loomes: Violin, Concertina, Additional vocal.
Plus...
Brendan Power: Harmonica.
Tim Edey: Guitar and accordion.
Lucy Randell: Cajon and percussion.
Live gigs in 2008 will be...
Duo with Geoff X.
Trio with Geoff X and Jon Loomes.
Solo with the above instruments.
Influences
Where do you start? One day it could be Jacques Brel another day Viv Stanshall. When I have a hurdy-gurdy in my hand it's Patrick Bouffard when I'm in a film mood it's Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger [paticularly A Canterbury Tale], when I am in the country and feeling peckish it's Richard Mabey.
But seriously though, the influences are so numerous that it is easy to forget who influenced what, why and how.
Sounds Like
An English hurdy-gurdy toting psychedelic singer-songwriter playing traditional music with a punk band.
Born...re-born 1967, first gig early 1968 Middle Earth Covent Garden supporting Denny Laine’s Electric String Band...1977, re-invented, became a Record Player...1989, got first hurdy-gurdy [that’s when the rot really set in]...1994, 1st album Vielle Sauvage...1997 2nd album Another Canterbury Tale...1998 died [well nearly]...re-born... 2001, 3rd album Radio Noir...2004, 4th album Hurdy-Gurdy Mandrohne... Andy Kershaw session BBC Radio 3 2005...2006, return to obscurity...5th album Le Son du Bois completed and ready for release when the wild garlic appears.
Hi Phil, Hope things are good with you. Mixing continues on the tracks you kindly contributed to. Looks like we have a few friends in common - hoping to see Temperadura at Folleville again in September. Hope you enjoy St Chartier - must go myself one year!! I'll send you the tracks when they are sounding gorgeous! All the best and thanks again, Kim x
It was so nice to see you at Cassel, and to talk together. I listened to your new album this morning. I really like your universe. Especially when you sing...
A beautiful album. Really. I will listened to it more closely...
See you soon. All the best.
Stéphane
PS : If you go on our page, you will see that I put you in our toplist of friends.
Hi, I have a new song up! It's quite different from my previous stuff, and I hope you like it. The song is called "In early spring" and it's from my upcoming EP#3. Just thought I'd let you know! Take care Emil
Would love to take up the Hurdy Gurdy, but checking out the price of the things, I don't think they are within my financial range! Still may visit Lancaster!
Hi Philip, Thanks for letting us know...we didn't listen on the night, but have visited the "Listen Again" page on the BBC website. We also missed a play of a different track on BBC Radio Cornwall. How are things in the world of Drone? I recently sold a set of my Great English Pipes to Jon Loomes...any idea how he is getting on with them? Hope to see you in the "Brits" camp at St.Chartier this year. Regards Pete and Clare
