Spellbinder

Music:

Member Since: 20/07/2007
Band Website: Still Very close to being extant now!!! Yay!
Band Members: Dora - violin, Me (Cath) - fiddle/violin/cello/viola d'Amore, maybe a bit of vocals, Nick - melodeon/hurdygurdy/Streb/harmonica/bodhran, Jim - stick bass, Garry - bodhran/tambourine/shakers/tooters/steam train whistle/various percs, Neil - guitar/recorder/keyboard/piano, Catherine - Vocals (and flute if we can persuade her at some point!!!), Rich Capener - 12-string guitar (if we can ever manage to get mutually agreeable times for rehearsals and gigs!!!)
Influences: Folk, Classical, Jazz (a bit), Blues (a bit), various artists, but mainly making of the music what we will and infusing our own emotions and ideas into it (of course... don’t we all?)... just one example of the ’messing about with the material’ is that we play a ragtime as a tango!!! great fun!Also, we are writing/arranging our own work and currently have 5 other writers asking us to play their material, or saying yes to our asking if we can. This is the most exciting of all for us I think. New material, with carte blanche on how to treat it. YAY!
Sounds Like: Us! - we would be happy if you can let us know if it doesn't!!!

Here are some comments that various people have written to us...

“Excellent Spellbinder... I'm so glad i was there to witness your very first performance... and what a performance!!! Looking forward to seeing you do a full set set... Superb stuff, Mark X” Musician in Audience

“Hey Kath (and the band of 200!), Thanks for coming down and doing your bit. You've put a great thing together there. There was a lovely mix of traditional folk playing interlaced with a smooth classical sound which I personally thought was very refreshing - I've never heard anything quite like it! The violin/fiddle playing from yourself, Karen and Pam and Dora was astounding in my eyes - an absolute delight. What's really great about what you've done is that some of the general public who just come along to watch have seen different instruments played to great effect, as some people have never seen a hurdy in action, and it's a pleasure to hear a really good one played really well, so 'Thanks Nick!' for that. You played some great songs, sounded great, looked the part... and did the best thing possible - left the audience wanting more. Well done!! And more you will give them - do come along again! The night seems to be going from strength to strength, as you saw, but I will fit you in!!! Great stuff!” Hedingham Open Mic Night Club Organiser

“You guys are fantastic. I love the 'Englishness' about you... you have a wonderful sound and your singer Lucie has the voice of an angel...” Musician in Audience

“Just to say I really enjoyed your set last night at the Shoes” Musician in Audience

“Hey spellbinder,listened to you at the weekend and "wow" it works so well and with so many of you.. great lead singer the gurdy is perfect and violins/fiddles in sync,the bass is pure,gary with his percussion is rockin, “ Member of Audience

“I just wanted to say a big THANKS for the set the 3HS last night. A really lovely sound!” 3 Horseshoes Music Night Club Organiser

“hi, will have to miss the shoes next month due to diary clash, but I hope to see you all play again soon... Keep doing what you do - great stuff!” Musician in Audience

“Keen to hear a demo when done” Party goer at recent Private Party Booking

“...in particular I enjoyed the music of your band. It was really top class . I was gobsmacked with the voice of your singer, thought it hauntingly beautiful.” Party goer at recent Private Party Booking

Record Label: Unsigned