Stuart Booth is a powerful singer of traditional style songs and a forceful player of the Bodhran. His
music has a strong Irish influence but it varies from old English ballads through to songs associated with the
emerging tradition of the new South Africa.
Pete Burnham sings both acappella and accompanies himself on octave mandola, guitar or concertina. He regularly teams up with other singers, usually contributing a strong harmony to the proceedings. One such
collaboration with Sheila Mosley has
borne fruit in the form of a CD called
A Conflict of Harmonies.
Pete inititiated the
Leicester Folk Diary. He also teamed up with Bill Wilkes to form
Wilbur Promotions.
Pete, Bill Wilkes, Karen Harris and Miggy Cambell sang together under
the name
GU4. Still with strong connections, he attends the club less frequently
since emigrating to Northumberland where he runs the Northumberland
Folk Diary.
Lyn Cooper is a singer, songwriter and good all round musician who is well known on the local folk scene.
She is equally at home performing her own well crafted numbers, singing unaccompanied traditional songs or
providing the harmonies for other singers. She is a sensitive guitarist, a fine English Concertina player, and
isn't half bad when performing on the whistle. She is the leader of the
Navigation Band
and sometimes performs
as part of an informal duet with
Martin Tabraham. And if that wasn't enough she also dances with
Anstey Royale Chalfont North-West Morris team.
Bob Crosby is a fine singer of traditional song, usually performing them unaccompanied. He is predominantly
known as a shantyman but he also turns in the occasional ballad and the odd humorous song. Bob is a stalwart of
the Everard's
Anstey Old Original Cotswold Morris side.
After early days in 'the Brickies' Karen Harris was off the scene for a while, but has come back with a vengeance. A sensitive
solo singer, she also sang with Bill Wilkes, Pete Burnham and Miggy Campbell in
GU4. She now sings with Bill Wilkes as ‘Shades of Grey’.
Tony Jalland is a much admired singer who usually accompanies himself on the guitar. He learnt his craft with
a folk band in the seventies but now performs as a solo act. His sensitive style and melodious delivery have made
him a firm favourite at both the Seagrave Folk Workshop and the Swan in the Rushes Folk club.
Jacky Lockley is a born performer and singer of unaccompanied songs. Her roots are firmly anchored in the
tradition but she is also an excellent exponent of music hall numbers. She has a strong interest in ancient
customs, folklore and ritual dance and is a member of
Anstey Royale Chalfont
North West Morris team. Jacky is also part of the acappella harmony group
Young No More along with Nic Burdett and Vic Simpson.
Phil Preen is an enthusiastic supporter of all things traditional. His
portfolio of songs varies from the traditional to the humorous. He plays the whistle, anglo concertina, bodhran
and spoons. Phil received a xylophone for his 40th birthday but we've not seen him play it out yet. He is a
member of the
Bang On The Wall Ceilidh Band
and dances with Everards Original
Anstey Morris Men and
Sergeant Musgraves Dance.
Martin Tabraham is a wonderfully lyrical singer, accomplished guitarist and imaginative player of various
whistles. He also plays English Concertina, can squeeze a decent tune out of the Scottish lowland bagpipes
and can often be heard harmonising on the choruses when other singers perform. His material ranges from the
English and Celtic tradition through French dance tunes and Richard Thompson numbers to the blues. Martin is
a well established performer who often appears solo around the local folk clubs, he is a member of the trio
Wheezle, he plays with the Navigation Band and sometimes teams up with Lyn Cooper for the occasionally
number.
Steve Tunnicliff is a man steeped in local tradition. He is an eloquent singer who is equally at home with
pithy ballads and bawdy music hall numbers. He plays melodeon and fiddle for both
New St. George
and Rutland
Morris teams as well as dancing with both sides. Every year around Plough Monday, the bearded figure of Steve
can be found in local pubs clad in a flowery dress and hob-nail boots as he plays the outrageously funny "Dame"
in the Long Clawson mummers play; a small part of our past that Steve has been instrumental in researching and
reviving.
Martin Wildig
is a great melodeon player and consummate fiddler. He leads the
The Bang On The Wall Ceilidh Band, is
a member of the highly acclaimed
Mortimers Morris
Band and was until recently the "musical director" of
Anstey Royale Chalfont's
North-West Morris Band. Martin now also plays for the band of
Segeant Musgraves Dance. Martin's
repertoire extends from English dance tunes through the celtic tradition to French dance music. His uncompromising,
lively, driving style has made him the toast of many a pub session.
Bill Wilkes is a thick skinned Brummie who can always be relied upon to sing (whether you want him to or not!).
Once he starts singing, it is a rare audience, in or out of folk clubs, whose attention is not immediately grabbed
by his wonderfully deep, rich, powerful voice. His sensitive interpretation and delivery has earned him the respect
of many other singers and he is in his element when leading the assembled congregation in a chorus. He is also a
born organiser, without whose drive and enthusiasm the Grand Union project would have remained a bright idea at the
bottom of a pint pot. Bill has also teamed up with Pete Burnham to form
Wilbur Promotions
presenting a number of concerts at the Y Theatre in Leicester. Bill,
Pete Burnham, Karen Harris and Miggy Cambell sang together under
the name GU4. He now sings with Karen Harris as ‘Shades of Grey’.