Can it be true ?? Dare we even believe it ?? I type this with everything crossed after frantically running around the house, madly implementing the ancient pagan ritual used by the Celts, who believed that spirits and gods resided in trees. ( I’ll give you a moment to think about that – info at the bottom of the page if my rambling is lost on you)
Yes this ‘unique force in British folk music’ The Gigspanner Big Band has released it’s live tour dates for the coming year and suddenly there seems some light at the end of what has seemed a very dark tunnel for live music.
For those who have not experienced this “Amazing…a force to be reckoned with – they storm every stage they walk on” (Mike Harding), The Gigspanner Big Band delivers a high-energy, virtuosic performance that will appeal equally to traditionalists and to those looking for something more experimental. They have garnered praise from publications as varied as fRoots, The Telegraph and The Wire, where they were described as ‘melodically folk-rooted yet open and innovative beyond the constraints of genre’
Beginning life as a trio – the legendary Steeleye Span fiddle player Peter Knight is joined by percussionist Sacha Trochet and guitarist Roger Flack – the line-up has since been expanded to form the Gigspanner Big Band, with acclaimed multi-instrumental duo Edgelarks (Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin – BBC Folk Awards ‘Best Duo‘) and Bellowhead co-founder and melodeon player extraordinaire, John Spiers, joining the fray.
As collaborations go, it doesn’t get much more mouth-watering than this. Here’s a sneaky peak ….
While Peter Knight, as part of Steeleye Span’s classic 1970s line-up, helped invent a brand of folk rock that is still influential today, John Spiers, has had an equally profound impact on the landscape of traditional music over the last two decades. Characterised by riotous inventiveness, technically gifted individual playing and subtle collaborative interaction, this coming together of several of the biggest names on the folk-roots scene, combines a deep knowledge of roots traditions with a ceaselessly boundary pushing approach.
Taking self-penned material along with music rooted in the British Isles and beyond, with the flick of a bow, a finely chosen chord or slip of a beat, they produce richly atmospheric arrangements layered within a wealth of subliminal musical influences “with notes seemingly plucked from the stars and rhythms from the equator” according to our esteemed Editor in Chief here at Spiral Towers.
He goes on to gush …
“True creativity speaks to the heart and entertains the mind with fresh ideas and images, and what brilliant entertainment this is. Knight has a knack for identifying the essence of a tune or song, pulling it apart and presenting it back to you in a way that surprises and refreshes. Hannah Martin and Phillip Henry simply make sublime music that has an otherworld of undercurrents and motifs woven through it. Put them all together and some alchemical magic occurs” 5***** Spiral Earth
Well I happen to agree (and its not just because I want a promotion !?) The only way to find out if all our gushing holds water .. is to find out for yourself ?!
Live Dates 2021
July 28th
Theatre Severn
Shrewsbury
https://www.theatresevern.co.uk/shows/whatson/gigspanner-big-band/
July 29th
As You Like it Festival
Stratford upon Avon
https://www.costadelfolk.co.uk/as-you-like-it/
July 30th
Teignmouth Pavilions
https://www.pavilionsteignmouth.org.uk/events/gigspanner-big-band
August 12th
Broadstairs Folk Festival
https://broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/
August 20th
FolkEast Festival
August 27th
Lyme Folk Weekend
August 29th
The Roses Theatre
Tewkesbury
https://www.rosestheatre.org/events/entry/peter-knights-gigspanner-big-band#.YJj_V7X0k2w
September 3rd
Gate To Southwell Festival
23rd October 2021
Manchester Folk Festival
https://homemcr.org/event/manchester-folk-festival-2021-the-gigspannner-big-band-plus-support/
17th November 2021
Brixham Theatre
Devon
Not yet on sale.
18th November
The Brewhouse Arts Centre
Taunton
https://www.thebrewhouse.net/event/gigspanner-big-band-2021/
28th November 2021
The Great British Folk Festival
1st December 2021
The Cut Arts Centre
Halesworth
http://newcut.org/events/entry/9825
2nd December 2021
The Landmark Arts Centre
Teddington
https://www.landmarkartscentre.org/
3rd December 2021
St Leonard’s Church
Hythe
Not yet listed/on Sale
4th December 2021
Hailsham Pavilion
Not yet listed/on sale
5th December 2021
The Spring Arts Centre
Havant
Last Few Tickets!
http://thespring.co.uk/whats-on/music/the-gigspanner-big-band-rescheduled/
For more details visit https://www.gigspanner.com/gigspanner-big-band
oh and …… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocking_on_wood