Well known throughout their native county, Lincolnshire, both for their club work as a duo and as members of the Higgledy Piggledy band, Bill and Dave present a fine blend of voices mellowed by nearly thirty years of singing together. Their selection of songs encompasses both ancient and modern accompanied in traditional style on English and duet concertina, harmonium, and melodeon, with enough choruses to satisfy any audience.
The pleasure they get from singing is obvious and since the release of their debut
album "Their Fine Array" they have taken their music further afield in clubs from
Cornwall to Lancashire and the North East and festivals countrywide." Three subsequent
CDs followed-
John Conolly
If you have never heard of John Conolly, let me introduce you. John comes from Grimsby,
on the northeast coast of England. He has been writing and singing folk songs for
more years than I care to remember. You might say he is a real folk singer and one
that was around in the revival era of the 60's. Indeed, his name appears on Sidmouth,
and many other festival guest lists, even earlier than Martin Carthy. Many sing some
of the songs he has written over the years not knowing who wrote them. Many, quite
understandably, think some of his songs are traditional. This is mainly due to the
style of writing and tunes he uses. I have lost count (and I am sure John has too)
of the amount of times you see his world famous song 'Fiddlers Green' listed as traditional
in the credits on other artists albums. Other masterpieces (or should I say folk
classics?) of his include 'Punch and Judy Man', 'Out of Season', and let's not forget
his monologue 'Albert goes to Cleethorpes'. Often teamed with Bill Meeks, the pair
of them must have penned over 40 songs. The theme for many of them is taken from
life's observations from living in a fishing port/seaside town. The two albums I
have chosen to review here are from John Conolly's solo career. If nothing else they
serve to demonstrate the wide diversity of this fine singer and entertainer who is
justly revered by his fellow singers, not only for his song-
(Peter Massey)
John's music has been hard to come by here in the US. CAMSCO is pleased to be able
to offer five of his CDs-
NOT NEW, BUT INTERESTING
Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher
