Solo
What’s In a Name?
Slighted by the band ‘Madigan’ – with whom I was originally on drums – carrying on with my name after I left, I thought it would be amusing to go solo as ‘a Band named Brian’. More amusing is the fact the drummer who replaced me in Madigan then became, for a short period, my drummer. Well, I’m easily amused.
The original line-up was: Pat Randall (The Yirdbards) on guitars; Zoe Stephenson on fiddle and backing vocals; Giles Brown on bass and Josh Clark (Kate Rusby, Sheelanagig) on drums. A long-standing co-performer has been Rob Whale – on fiddle, bass and backing vocals. He has become part of the line-up for Bike to The Future. An avid cyclist himself, Rob will be joining me for much of the upcoming tour.
At other times, I have been joined by Amadou Djagne on djembe; Beth Porter (Eliza Carthy, Newton Falkner, The Unthanks) on cello; Steve Holder (The Pinkertons) on double bass; Martin Craddick (Baka Beyond) on guitar; Dom Bailey-Clay (Port Erin) on drums and Dan Whiston (Mighty Dynamite) on bass. For recent Bath Fringe and Glastonbury appearances, I also had the great pleasure to be accompanied on drums and cajon by my wonderful son Florian.
Appearances Have Included…
Glastonbury Festival – Bandstand, Theatre & Circus Green Room Bar
Bath Fringe – Old Theatre Royal Bath
Edinburgh Fringe – Acoustic Rooms
Bracknell Festival – Silo Stage
Shindig Festival – Hobo Stage
St George’s – Bristol
Moles – Bath
The Bell Inn – Bath
Bunjies – London
Bristol Folk House – Bristol
The Pelican – Stroud
The Prom Wine Bar – Bristol
Theatre Bath – Natural Theatre Co HQ / Old Theatre Royal Bath
The Half Moon in Putney – London
The Three Horseshoes – Bradford-on-Avon
The Arc Theatre – Trowbridge
The Rondo Theatre – Bath
The Wheatsheaf – Swindon
Mr Wolf’s – Bristol
Radford University Theatre – Virginia, US
…and – as they say – many more!