Dazbo

After leaving school I joined the merchant navy with Shell Tankers which entailed three years college in South Shields and a year at sea. Working on super tankers you don't get much time ashore but I went to Singapore, Australia, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Sullom Voe (Shetlands) and the Ivory Coast. I also got to see Indonesia (especially Bali and Lombuk), Nigeria, the Suez Canal, Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. I also ended up circumnavigating Africa! I was made redundant for the first time and opted to go to university in Newcastle, which was FAB.

I then worked as an engineer in the brewing industry (which, surprisingly has a lot in common with ships) before being made redundant for the second time.

I currently work with computers for a payroll and HR provider, although the contract on which I am working is coming to an end and it's looking like I may be made redundant soon (again!!!). This is not something I'm looking forward to as the last time it took years to get a job ("sorry you're not experienced enough" or "sorry you're too highly qualified").

I enjoy living in Sheffield for the folk scene (the Folk Capital of England according to Colin Irwin I believe) and its easy access to the Peak District. I play the melodeon (diatonic button accordian) and for the past two years have been playing for Boggart's Breakfast border morris team - which is enormous fun.
I have been into folk music since I was about 11 when my elder brothers introduced me to Matty Groves by Fairport Convention and the Below the Salt LP by Steeleye Span. Since then I seemed to plough a lonely furrow until I went to the Sidmouth festival in 2004 and found out there was a huge folk scene which I'd never come across (see above).

My main interest is in English folk music, which when I was growing up seemed a very elusive beast but due to 'youngsters' like Eliza Carthy, Spiers and Boden and Crucible seems to be having a bit of a rebirth. I have, however, discovered the delights of north western Italian music (Tre Martelli and La Ciapa Rusa) and the tarantellas, saltarellos and quadriglia of southern Italy.