- event type:Concert
- date:16 Oct 2015
- time:19.30
- city/area:Sheffield
- venue:Heeley Institute
- country:United Kingdom
- style(s):Folk
- event posted by:TalkingGigs
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TalkingGigs is delighted to present John Spiers - a melodeon and concertina player with a passion for traditional music, particularly that of the Thames Valley and the Vale of the White Horse where he grew up.
And what a time to catch him - on the eve of (well, a month before!) the farewell tour of Bellowhead, the band that emerged from the duo that John formed with Jon Boden in 2001 after leaving university. Formed in 2004, this 11 piece folk big-band has risen to the top of the folk world and crossed over into the realms of mainstream music. On the band’s 10th anniversary they sold out the Royal Albert Hall for a celebratory concert. Last year they played in Hyde Park for BBC Radio 2’s Festival in a Day alongside ELO, Blondie, Paloma Faith, Billy Ocean and Chrissie Hynde.
Mainly self-taught and influenced by both local musicians and leading players in the folk world, he has developed a very exciting and danceable style on his instruments which retains the raw rhythm of the morris while developing tunes in exciting and musical ways.
John is an ideal artist for TalkingGigs where the intimate mix of chat and music will allow you to hear a mixture of traditional material and his own compositions ... and the chance to ask that question that you've always wanted to ask about John, his solo work, or his time with Bellowhead.