Brian Peters

While acoustic music of all genres is always appreciated at the Carrington Triangle, the evening of April 9th was especially dedicated to a celebration of the traditional folk idiom, powerfully presented by our guest performer, Brian Peters.
     Brian has been described as one of the English folk scene’s great all-rounders, a compelling singer and multi-instrumentalist, and he certainly lived up to his reputation that evening. With his vibrant, clear voice, anglo-concertina, guitar and melodeon, he put the traditional material across in a skilful, relatable manner, and, seeming very much at ease, appeared to enjoy himself as much as his audience did, introducing his songs and tunes with humorous anecdotes and well researched knowledge of their origins.
    His repertoire included Child ballads, songs collected by Cecil Sharp, and one or two relatively recent songs, for example Chris Foster’s ‘Trespassers will be Celebrated’ about the mass trespass in the Peak District in 1932 in support of opening up the land again to ramblers, which, he told us, was a subject close to his heart as a walker himself.
    Brian sang several humorous songs including a music hall song ‘Chips and Fish’, and ‘ The Molecatcher’.  Many of the songs are of course well known to folk club audiences, but he seems to have discovered self-styled ‘obscure versions’ which included his final song, The Wild Rover’ from Hampshire.  Other songs included ‘Turpin Hero’, ‘Adieu my Lovely Nancy’, and ‘The Manchester Rambler’.
     I believe, judging by the favourable comments from members of the audience, that Brian’s charismatic performance was much appreciated.

Maureen McGuinness, on behalf of the Carrington Triangle folk club