Bios

Cliff Stapleton

Playing the hurdy-gurdy began in 1979 as a visual and audio prop whilst acting in theatre performances. Some of these shows were at outdoor festivals where he did additional solo busking. As the repertoire was very small with this strange new instrument, Ihe broadened the act with comic juggling, fire-eating and even laying on broken glass In Spring 1980 he began performing full time as a street performer and by the end of the year was asked to join the folk dance band Blowzabella. The first album was released in 1982 and invitations to venues and festivals increased dramatically. A performance at the hurdy-gurdy and bagpipe festival at St Chartier, France, in July 1981 was another big turning point. He began composing new music for Blowzabella, including The Man in the Brown Hat, a tune he wrote to accompany the English traditional rant step. After three more albums and several memorable tours, including Canada and Japan, he decided to leave in 1985 and played with experimental musick group Coil, and the avant-garde group Cyclobe.

Chris Walshaw pipes & whistles

Cliff Stapleton hurdy gurdy

Steve Tyler hurdy gurdy

Richard Jones accordion & bouzouki

Photos: Bridget Reader & Quentin Fletcher