Traditional
songs and music from England with squeezeboxes and guitar
“Brian Peters
has long been one of the very best performers in the field of English
traditional song and music… he sings and plays with consummate skill.”
Dirty Linen (USA)
"A performer
of real stature.... He plays and sings to an excellent standard"
The Living Tradition
Brian Peters is, according to the UK’s Living Tradition magazine “a top-notch singer and player, also one of the best-researched performers currently doing the rounds, and master of several crafts” while the US folk music magazine Dirty Linen described him as “one of the very best performers in the field of English traditional song and music”.
Brian is a great all-rounder, on the one hand a highly-respected singer, and on the other a multi-instrumentalist acknowledged as one of England’s leading exponents of the anglo concertina and melodeon (button accordion) and a skilled guitarist as well. Described as “one of British folk music’s finest ambassadors”, Having honed his performing skills in the folk clubs of England, he’s taken his music to stages all over the world, touring regularly in America, Europe and Australia, but always retaining a deep commitment to the musical traditions of his native country.
Brian believes strongly in the power and relevance of the old songs, specializing particularly in the great ballads of the British Isles, rivetting stories in music: “Brian Peters plunges deep into the ancient songs, finds their power, mystery, evil, drollery and courage, and brings them to us fresh”, declared one American writer. His live presentation, Songs of Trial & Triumph, focusing on ballads from the Child collection, has won much acclaim. He has a particular skill in crafting song accompaniments on each of his instruments, giving a wide range of musical textures, and he’s not a traditional diehard, being happy to include modern songs of struggle or comedy.
On the instrumental side, Brian is a skilled player and researcher of old Northern English dance music, unearthing tunes from centuries-old manuscripts, at the same time composing many new tunes in traditional style, published in his book Rattle and Roll. He’s also known for daring forays into ragtime, blues and rock’n’roll on his squeezeboxes, making for a repertoire of sometimes startling variety. Brian presents his material with energy, informality and dry humour.
Brian is very experienced as a teacher and workshop leader, having tutored classes at North American summer schools and English folk festivals on ballads and singing style, and led workshop groups on concertina, melodeon and guitar at countless tutorial sessions. He’s taught at the ‘Hands-on Music’ concertina and melodeon weekends at Witney more often than any other tutor.
Brian has made many recordings, from the concertina-centred Anglophilia to the ballad-themed Songs of Trial and Triumph, all of which have received a warm reception from reviewers. He’s also the accordion player heard regularly on the TV cartoon Spongebob Squarepants!
For a listing of some of Brian’s past appearances at festivals, clubs and workshop events, go here.
For Brian’s discography, go here.
