Drums
Rivers Deep
Currently, I am the regular drummer/percussionist for alt-folk combo Rivers of England. This is the brainchild of writer/frontman Rob Spalding. Over the years, the band line-up has included various folk and rock luminaries, including Innes Sibun (Robert Plant, Buddy Guy). The new EP – ‘Quarter to Eight in Spring’ features Beth Porter (Newton Faulkner, Eliza Carthy, The Unthanks, etc.) on cello and composer/pianist extraordinaire Jools Scott on keys.
Plucky Heroes
Previously, I was on drums with Blues/Funk groovers ‘Plucky Purcell‘, which was a lot of fun. Highlights included a storming set at Glastonbury’s Rabbit Hole stage, a roof/fund-raising night at The Plough in Easton (Bristol) and a support gig with The Beat at Bath’s Komedia.
Thompson’s Holidays
Around the same time, I was on percussion and vocals with Thompson’s Lovechild, alongside Jason Albarin on drums (Plucky Purcell’s percussionist ). Our first gig was at a cider farm, where we were handsomely paid in produce. And things descended from there! One (barely) memorable highlight was an appearance at Sunrise Festival – the inspiration for my song ‘Avin it Large’.
Folk Roots
Soon after arriving in Bath, in the mid 1990s, I ran into an old college friend, harpist and singer Jenny Crook. She had established herself as a leading light in the folk world, coming runner-up in the BBC folk awards and scoring David Attenburgh’s Private Life of Plants, together with Maclaine Colston. She had a folk trio with fiddle player Henry Sears (Afterhours, Daily Planet) and guitarist Dom Harrison (Southern Exposure, Daily Planet). This – with my addition – became ‘Madigan’.
Wounded Wisdom
Probably the highlight of my live performing career so far was on percussion, flute and vocals with the inimitable mystical/psychedelic-acoustic combo Wise Wound. It’s hard to describe the intensity of this experience. More a way of life than a band, we played hundreds of gigs in and around London, including a residency at the legendary Bunjies in Soho. We were regulars at numerous festivals, including Glastonbury appearances on just about all but the main stages. The band was also instrumental in introducing live music to what has now become the Avalon Café.
Live/Recording Credits
I Smell Burning – retro pop-rock – drums, vocals
Rivers of England – alt-folk – drums, percussion, vocals
Binderos – jazz/rock/latin fusion – drums, percussion
World Government – drums
Thompson’s Lovechild – indie pop/rock
Plucky Purcell – blues/funk – drums
The Locust Recipe – prog rock – drums
Chance & The Lucky Aces – indie punk/rock
The Golden Eggs – Christmas folk – percussion, vocals
The Soap Dodgers – rock ‘n’ roll, blues, funk – percussion
The Kneutsons – indie pop – drums, vocals
Cartwheel Ceilidh – trad folk – drums
Round Midnight – jazz standards – drums
Tracy Island – cult TV/film themes – drums
Childe Roland – psychedelic, mythical, electro-acoustic rock – percussion, flute, vocals
De Pasz (Germany) – latin/funk/jazz/rock fusion – percussion
Pas Partous (Germany) – acoustic covers – percussion, flute, vocals
Toni Tanner (Germany) – singer-songwriter – drums, percussion, flute, vocals
Hodmadoddery – English/Celtic folk – flute, percussion
The Bath Tub Ceilidh Band – Celtic/English folk – drums
Caspakopf – inide pop-rock – drums, vocals
Madigan – Irish/American folk-rock – drums, flute
Debbie & The Dynamics – reggae – drums
The Andy Burden Band – acoustic folk-pop – flute, drums, percussion, vocals
Super Rhythm Express – Southern African grooves – drums
Wise Wound – psycho-acoustic pop/rock – percussion, flute, vocals, drums
Bert Weedon – 60s/70s guitar virtuoso – drums
Charlie Round-Turner Trio – swing – drums
DMZ – hard rock – drums
Tanglefoot – Celtic/English folk – drums
Bob Whale & The Marleys – funk/pop/reggae – drums
The Thin & Quiet Elastic Cats (US) – jazz-fusion – drums
Radford University Jazz Combo (US) – swing, jazz, funk – drums
Fergus Read Ensemble – vintage Jazz – drums
The Essential Bears – prog/blues/rock – drums
Self-Service – indie pop/rock – drums
Inside Out – acoustic folk-pop – drums
Legend – pop/folk – drums, flute, piano
Lorelei – melodic rock – drums
Collision – hard rock – drums
Aunt Agatha’s Secret – new wave – drums
Feedback – punk/new wave – drums