Fieldwork

Fieldwork have re-formed with the original line-up for a handful of gigs in May and June 2008. Try and get along to one of them !Fieldwork were an innovative and popular East Midlands-based folk band. They developed a 'world music' sound married to the English/Irish tradition long before world music became fashionable, and played folk clubs, pubs and festivals (mainly around the Midlands region, but with forays elsewhere - notably Sidmouth, Cheltenham and in Brittany). Their lifespan covered twenty years in total, being most active between 1985-1990, when they were often mentioned in the folk press and heard intermittently on the radio. During this early period their hallmark was writing or rearranging songs from the radical folk tradition, and performing them with energy and passion. They played several benefit gigs in support of striking miners, CND and other worthy causes, as well as making a bit of a splash on the then-blossoming folk circuit. Percussion was always well to the fore in their arrangements, and included African and Turkish hand drums, tongue drum, maracas, triangle, mbiras and bodhran. The original line-up featured Tim Garland, Patrick Gray, William Johnson and Dave Walker. They supported Dick Gaughan and The Battlefield Band amongst others, made several festival appearances, and were recorded live twice for broadcast on Folk On 2. Three self-produced cassette albums (Sharpen The Sickle, Sunfishing and Dalbouka Joe & Busk) and an EP (The Ballad Of Crane Tinkerman) came from this period. The band also contributed two songs to a compilation album 'The English Rebels' which was produced by John Tams and Joe King in 1988. Increasing work and family commitments (the bane of so many non-professional bands !) resulted in a decrease in activity and momentum. Mik Walker, who'd previously acted as sound and recording engineer, joined on harmonium, bass and percussion, and for a year or so Fieldwork operated as a five-piece, before Patrick left in 1990. Eventually in 1992 the band called a halt - ending off with a packed hometown gig in Nottingham. After a five year break the original line-up reformed and played some gigs in 1998 and 1999. The aforementioned recordings were distilled into a retrospective CD 'From Humdrum To Tongue Drum - A Young Person's Guide To Fieldwork' which was released in 1999. This received favourable reviews in several folk magazines. Tim Garland left the band in 2000, just after recording 'Rains Of Spring' - the band's second CD. After a period as a three-piece, Ronan O'Cualain (melodeon) joined in 2002. In the same year the third CD 'Make Me One With Everything' was recorded, featuring contributions from several Nottingham-based musicians. They played irregularly in and around Nottingham before calling it a day in 2004. A final enhanced CD 'Five Eyes' featured a mixture of new and old material with video and photos. Copies of 'From Humdrum To Tongue Drum' are still available mail order(send a message if interested in recordings or other information)