The wonderfully original Blowzabella will be hitting the road in May to play a series of dates across England as well as headline the main stage at FolkEast in Suffolk on Saturday 20 August – one you don’t want to miss! Started in 1978 their path to the sun has been unlike any other band. Whilst their lineup has gone through changes (although founder Jon Swayne is still a member, followed by Paul James [1980] and David Shepherd [1983] ) the one constant is their inimitable, driving, drone-based sound played with a fabulous sense of melody, rhythmic expertise which they express with sheer feeling.
They compose their own music which is influenced by English and European traditional dance music and we were treated to an incredible album for their 35th Anniversary in 2013 in the form of Strange News. They also provided us with an entertaining tour blog in the same year including a fascinating history of the band which began life performing at festivals and fairs drawing attention as an energetic stilt walking dance band in bizarre costumes to the evolution of the Blowzabella ‘Wall of Sound’ and beyond.
All the band members compose and many of their tunes are “standards” in the modern British/European folk repertoire and are played by people all over the world. Bands across Europe who experiment with folk music often cite Blowzabella as a major influence. Much loved and respected, there is no one else quite like them.
Blowzabella Tour Dates
Friday 13 May. 8pm. The Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington, Devon.
Saturday 14 May. 7:30pm. The David Hall. South Petherton. Somerset.
Sunday 15 May. 1pm to 5pm. Subscription Rooms, Stroud. Gloucestershire.
Friday 20 May. 7:30pm. St Mary in the Castle. Hastings, Sussex.
Saturday 21 May. 7:30pm. St. Barnabas Church. Jericho. Oxford.
Sunday 22 May. 7:30pm. John Peel Centre for Creative Arts. Stowmarket. Suffolk.
Blowzabella will also headline the main stage on Saturday night at FolkEast in Suffolk (19-21 August).
Saturday 20 August. FolkEast, Glenham Hall Grounds, Suffolk
More details and ticket links to all gigs can be found here: blowzabella.co.uk/dates
BLOWZABELLA are Andy Cutting – diatonic button accordion; Jo Freya – vocals, saxophone, clarinet; Paul James – bagpipes, saxophones; Gregory Jolivet – hurdy-gurdy; David Shepherd – violin; Barn Stradling – bass guitar; Jon Swayne – bagpipes, saxophone.