Alan Bearman Music
The Music Base
Kings Place
90 York Way
London
N 1 9AG
Te l: 020 7014 2821
www.alanbearmanmusic.co.uk
An Evening with Dave Swarbrick
Tunes, stories and reminiscences from a life in music.
Regarded by many as Britain’s finest folk fiddler Dave Swarbrick has inspired and
influenced countless musicians over five decades. From his early work with the Ian
Campbell Folk Group and his groundbreaking time with Fairport Convention he has
continued to be at the forefront of the British folk movement. Famously killed off
by his Daily Telegraph obituary in 1999, Swarbrick celebrates his 70th year by
continuing to tour solo and with longstanding musical partner Martin Carthy.
He won his battle with emphysema after a life saving, double lung transplant in
2004 and his resilience and strength enabled him to return to the road. Since then
he has travelled Britain, Europe and Australia playing with his new band, Swarb’s
Lazarus, and has been re-united with both Martin Carthy and Alistair Hulett for
outstanding duo tours.
In the Summer of 2010 Dave Swarbrick released his first solo album with a stellar
cast of accompanying musicians making appearances including Michael Burnham,
Martin Carthy, John Kirkpatrick, Beryl Marriott, Kevin Dempsey, Martin Allcock,
Simon Mayor, Jude Rees, and The Jason Wilson Band (Jason Wilson, Marcus Ali, Iain
Green, Andrew Stewart, Bobby Hsu & R. J. Satchithananthan).
A message from Swarb: "It has taken all of 8 years for me to complete this cd and I
don't think it can be repeated. There are 4 EFDSS 'Gold Badge' holders involved, the
highest accolade of the English Folk Song and Dance Society: Beryl Marriott, Martin
Carthy, John Kirkpatrick and myself have all had the honour of being awarded it.
The opening track of my very first solo album 'Rags, Reels and Airs': 'Spanish Ladies
Medley', has been revisited with The Jason Wilson Band' a group of highly talented
Canadian musicians. I have researched and arranged English music previously
unrecorded from 1680 to 1745. And then, to ice the cake, along with a couple of
my own compositions there are two tracks featuring the glorious playing of the
great Beryl Marriott. So, with the help of 14 of the best players I know, I offer to
you... 'raison d'etre'."
His fiddle flits and swoops like a swallow in full flight ...both his sense of humour
and cavalier instinct are intact. FROOTS
We Brought the Summer With Us features Dave Swarbrick' s playing at its best. A
truly stunning end to a brilliant CD. Raison d'Etre shows just why he is one of the
select few. LIVING TRADITION
… he treats us here to his full range of enduring skills, through hearty baroque to
classical, Irish and ceilidh music. MOJO (4stars)
….listen to his masterclasses in bowing on Sweet Alban and A Jigg Called Long
Time/Running Footman's Jig/The Brown Joak' and laugh and weep. R2
(ROCK’N’REEL)
Lifetime Achiever Swarb, fiddle player by appointment to the universe.
NETRHYTHMS
Raison d'etre brings to the listener a selection of great tunes played in Swarb's
inimitable style and is the work of a fine fiddler who simply refuses to lie down and
rest on his not inconsiderable laurels. EFDSS MAGAZINE
Radio 2 Folk Awards Winner:
Best Duo (with Martin Carthy) 2007
Most Influential Folk Album – Liege & Lief (with Fairport Convention) 2006
Lifetime Achievement Award 2003
The Hancock Awards – Best Musician 2007
EFDSS Gold Badge Award
British Academy of Composers & Songwriters – Gold Badge of Merit
www.folkicons.co.uk/swarb.htm
www.alanbearmanmusic.co.uk