Featuring Peter Knight’s fiddle and accompanied by percussionist Sacha Trochet and guitarist Roger Flack, the Gigspanner Trio celebrated the Tenth Anniversary of their debut album Lipreading the Poet in 2019. Their last studio album, The Wife of Urban Law, was released in 2017 when Peter turned 70. As you can see from the 30-date tour itinerary below, he still shows no signs of slowing up, and some of those dates are already sold out. This includes dates with Hannah Martin, Phillip Henry (of Edgelarks) and John Spiers who make up the expanded lineup known as the Gigspanner Big Band. Thomas Blake once described them as “a revelation, exploring the wildest shores of folk rock and steering close to jazz, oriental music and even a beguilingly avant-garde brand of drone-based modern composition.”
Those of you who have seen them live will know that they are far more than a traditional folk band; their sound moves between different spheres of influence that are familiar and exploratory.
The manner in which the band play fast and loose with the idea of traditional song structures is a major part of their appeal. It is genuinely exciting to hear a band expanding the possibilities of folk music in so many different directions. Thomas Blake (Folk Radio)
Most recently, they delivered a ‘best of album’ in the form of From Poets to Wives, which featured selected tracks from their first three studio albums, Lipreading the Poet (2009), Layers of Ages (2015) and The Wife of Urban Law (2017) and their live album Doors at Eight (2011). The carefully chosen nine tracks served to demonstrate how beautifully original and innovative their music can be.
In their expanded Big Band form, they take that exploration to another level, capturing the sparkle of their musicianship and the intimacy of their collaboration.
You now have the opportunity to witness them live in what has to be said looks like one of the busiest tours I’ve seen in a while. Get out there, enjoy live music again and give them your support; here’s a reminder of why:
Gigspanner Trio/Big Band Tour Dates
Gigspanner Trio Dates (unless stated)
Saturday 23rd October – Manchester Folk Festival (Gigspanner Big Band)
Friday 29th October – St. Bartholomew’s Church/Community Hall, Binley, Coventry (SOLD OUT)
Saturday 30th October – The Village Hall, Shutlanger, Northants
Sunday 31st October – Middle Aston House, Oxon
Tuesday 2nd November – G Live, Guildford
Wednesday 3rd November – Quay Arts Centre, Isle of Wight
Thursday 4th November – Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Totton, Southampton
Friday 5th November – Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, Walton-on-Thames
Saturday 6th November – Wingfield Barns, Wingfield, Suffolk
Sunday 7th November – 7th The Stables Theatre, Hastings
Wednesday 10th November – The Stables Theatre, Wavendon, Milton Keynes
Thursday 11th November – Fleecey Folk The Fleece Bretforton Evesham
Saturday 13th November – The Community Hall, Kingsand, Cornwall
Sunday 14th November – Devoran Acoustic, Devoran, Cornwall
Wednesday 17th November – Brixham Theatre
Thursday 18th November – Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
Friday 19th November – The Market Theatre, Ledbury, Herefordshire
Saturday 20th November – St Peter’s Church, Kinver, Staffordshire
Sunday 21st November – The Town Hall, Bishop’s Castle
Wednesday 24th November – Victoria Hall, Settle
Thursday 25th November – Memorial Hall, Reeth
Friday 26th November – Otley Courthouse
Saturday 27th November – Ropery Hall, The Ropewalk, Barton-upon-Humber
Gigspanner Big Band
Sunday 28th November – The Great British Folk Festival, Skegness
Monday 29th November – Wells Maltings, Wells-Next-The-Sea
Wednesday 1st December – New Cut Arts Centre, Halesworth
Thursday 2nd December – The Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington
Friday 3rd December – The Royal Theatre, Margate.
Saturday 4th December – Hailsham Pavilion (Spyboy Promotions)
Sunday 5th December – The Spring Arts Centre, Havant (Sold Out)
Tickets and further details via https://www.gigspanner.com/live