Keith Carter-Harris Vocals, Guitar, Bouzouki and Conga
Mark Seyler 4 and 5 String Fiddle, Cello Fiddle, Vocals
Influences
**Keith: Well looks like it's me first, it all started with a Steeley Span LP (yes we called them that back then) called Below the salt. I suppose that could have been the start of my interest in early music as well, but it certainly got me into folk music. From there Fairport Convention who I had the pleasure of playing with (acoustic) in the mid 1980's while I was recording my first proper album/tape with Barnet Fair Electric ceilidh Band.
I grew up in Barnet, North London and played the local clubs alond with fellow musicians from band such as Black Rat, Shave the Monkey and Pywacket. I studied early musical instrument making at the London College of Furniture (I was a few years after Jon Swain) in 1987 and so got the bug, even playing Viol de Gamba in the college consort.
For guitar I would have to say my greatest inspiration came from listening to John Renbourn and Martin Carthy although a good bit of Jimmy Hendrix and Frank Dunnary get in there sometimes.
I have played many different styles over the years and its hard to say if I had a specific vocal inspiration, but when I really began singing out front so to speak, I was very inspired by Andrew Roachford. It is hard to say I have not been inspired by folk singers though and I have listened to many over the years from Sandy Denny to John Tams, and , well, Martin Carthy again! (are there any of us out there who weren't inspired by the great fellow?)
**Mark:
When very young I chose to play the violin because my grandfather played Edwardian-type salon music on an old violin, accompanied by my grandmother, and I loved the old-fashioned Sunday afternoon entertainment! All through school, making classical music brought much enjoyment but I went off to college, found new forms of fun and put the fiddle away for 10 years or so.
I
In the early 80’s I saw an advert for musicians to join a new Morris side: in for a penny thought I…. The joys of the Morris kept me amused for over 15 years until interest slightly waned and my knees gave up, but by then I was well versed in the ways of English folk tunes and had played with BBC colleagues in ‘Thingers and Fumbs’ (a ceilidh band with large brass section, fiddles, melodeons etc), 'The Whole Hog' and ‘5 Bar’d Gait’, both collections of friends out to enjoy themselves playing for dances. Sessions in local pubs, the music of Fairport Convention (with the wonderful Swarbrick), Chris Leslie, Martin Hayes and the like, a couple of tutorial weeks with the great Shetland player Catriona McDonald and a general seepage of other styles into my own have resulted in what I sound like today.
I
My fiddles are interesting: both by Bridge, the Lyra 5-string has the lower C of a viola, and the Octave takes fiddle tuning down one full octave giving a great range for tunes or song accompaniment. No great un-natural effects have been used as yet, but both are electric and who knows what I will get past ‘the management’ in the future!
Sounds Like
Guitar, Fiddle and vocals with Jazz influences creating acoustic folk that will have you swinging and singing along.
Trebuchet are a duo who create innovative, exciting and entrancing music, tradition-based but forward-looking.
Formed in 2003, Trebuchet have performed at numerous clubs, festivals and dances; they have also provided the live music for a production of Shakespeare's 'As You Like It', and performed at Manchester's prestigious Bridgewater Hall.
Trebuchet play a mixture of traditional and self-penned material rooted in the rich English folk tradition: salty songs of the sea, everyday stories of landowners and the faery folk, glorious slow airs, foot-stomping polkas, songs of local Cheshire legends, and material ranging from the Middle Ages through to the present day.
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
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