A Medical Receptionist for 20 something years, Skye has raised 3 boys and about 6 years ago married local personality, pool-guy and, although slightly greying, all-round nice fellow, John. They love nothing more than to pack up the Nissan, esky, camper trailer and kayaks and head off to some stinking hot, foresaken swamp of a place infested by so many unpleasant critters and varmints that no-one in their right mind would want to vist!
Interestingly, wherever Skye goes, she meets people she knows! We have proven this many times. We've arrived at a gig in some far-flung place she has never visited, a bus will drive up and out will step a long lost friend. Or they're busy catching crabs and fighting off crocs and flies in their boat ("muddies with salties & blowies in the tinnie") when on the bank will appear an old school chum, or an aunt!
Skye, the much more tolerant, better-looking and all-round nicer person of the musical duo, sings and plays guitar.
Col
Col has played guitar since 13 when his band "Spectre" played Shadows' covers at school dances. He has an Honours degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Bath University (chosen because it was the "prettiest" Uni) and amongst other things has been Network Manager for a building society, a Senior Public Servant and more recently a Senior Business Management Consultant. The sudden loss of an array of internal organs forced a change in lifestyle.
Now as a web designer, software developer, guitar teacher and part time folk singer he still earns as much, it just takes 10 times as long. Col is also a part-time nerd and although he has a number of skills upon which to draw, concedes that diplomacy is not one of them!
Married to his wife Annie since 1976, they have raised 2 girls of their own plus another who came to dinner and stayed for a few years. Their idea of a holiday involves somewhere with room service and absolutely no crocodiles - although they can tolerate a tent in a good cause, such as a folk festival.
Col sings and plays guitar, harmonica, whistle and fiddle.
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Spirit of the Glen upcoming gigs include
Celtic Communion (1st fri each mth)
Uranquinty Folk Festival
Gourmet in the Glen
Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival
Glen Innes Pipe Band -Centenary Dinner
Guyra Lamb and Potato Festival
Australian Celtic Festival 2010 - Celtic Communion
Australian Celtic Festival 2010 - Railway Ref Rooms
Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Cat Stevens, Simon & Garfunkel, Richard Digance, The Johnstones, Mary Black, Dylan, Donovan, Fleetwood Mac and not forgetting Jimi and Eric
News -
we played the Uranquinty Folk Festival on 2-5 oct 2009,
and had THE BEST TIME!! It was just fabulous. Read all about our experiences here - "Newbies at Quinty" - Alan Hunter, President of Uranquinty Folk Festival used these words - "Oh Col, that was the most moving thing I have ever read about Quinty, or just about anything, ............"(read his comments in full on the home page)
hi and welcome to the "real" Spirit of the Glen pages.
Why "real"?
Because we are an actual folk duo and not a CD of bagpipe music!
But you found us and that's excellent!
Please enjoy.
About us
"Follow the Spirit" -
Glen Innes based Skye McKenny and Col Pike share a life-long love of folk music and in 2002 came together to form Spirit of the Glen.
Relative newcomers to the performing stage, Col and Skye would most certainly lose almost any name-dropping competition. They have never had coffee with Bob Dylan nor did they ever tour with Peter Paul and Mary although Col does claim to have met Harry Secombe in a pub once! However, this dynamic and enjoyable duo bring great harmonies and a variety of instruments (nylon guitars, whistles, harmonica, fiddle and the occassional bangey thing) to their extensive repertoire which includes traditional, original, celtic and contempory folk songs and tunes as well as those of the folk revival era.
They also enjoy dragging in tunes from other less obvious sources, especially from the 60's and 70's, and applying their own treatments. The music of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane and the Rolling Stones, to name just a few, has all suffered this fate as has that of AC/DC! This versatility is amply demonstrated on their 3rd CD "Still Standing" which was released in May 2009 (the name harks back to their first CD which was entitled "Standing Stones", named after the national monument at Glen Innes).
If you'd like to hear / see more about our "Still Standing" CD, it's all on our website here - http://www.spiritoftheglen.net
Spirit of the Glen appeal to young and old alike and were Winners of The Australian Celtic Festival 2009 Triquetra Award.
On July 25, 2009 we played for 200 diners at a charity "Christmas in July" fund-raiser and took a camera along. Here's a couple of songs from the set:
Boat on a river:
Hint1 - you'll probably need to press start twice (it's a youtube thing!)
Hint2 - if you have other music playing, it's best if you stop it before starting the video!
Lonesome Boatman:
It ain't me babe:
Here we are winding up a set at the 2009 Australian Celtic Festival in Glen Innes with a silly song about drunken sailors and bagpipes. As if on cue a pipe band starts up in the (not very) background! Glen Innes of course is the home of the Australian Standing Stones a famous stone circle (or "rock band")!
And here's a youtube video (photos courtesy of Keith Jackson, Suzi and Annie) of Erin Shore - It's on our 3rd CD (did we mention we have a new CD out?)
G'day. We are also looking forward to seeing you again. Is John coming with you? It also looks like we will be back at Glen Innes next year. At this stage possibly two showings of Lochaber No More at chaple theatre. Still to be 100% confirmed. See you at Quinty.Eddie.
Thanks for the add. Of course I remember you at Glen Innes! Great music! I had a fantastic time at the Festival - meeting up with old friends (Braemar), and making new friends (like Rant)! I saw both bands again at Portarlington last weekend at the National Celtic Festival!
Hey Spirit of the Glen!Great Page & TY for your Free Spirit Support!Hope you have a chance to listen to this phenomenal new release or just a few tracks/vid, from Finland, when you're not rippin up the stages:)Download on AORHEAVEN.COM etc:)Heres to Touring the Universe & continued success on your Music Journey as well!Rock on & cheers to a fantastic weekend!!Hugz..Lisa myspace.com/freespiritrock CRANK IT UPPPPPPPPP with Until The Night or unwind with this mesmerizing Free Spirit vid~
Good Morning from the USA!!What a gift you have:))You should of been playing at Woodstock:))Hope you both have a beautiful weekend~Keep it on the speaker..Keepin us all young for sHure:)Lisa (RoadHouse V's)
