Page updated 6.9.08: New songs added and other general tinkering
I abandoned a not-very-promising career in biological science over twenty years ago for the fleshpots of the British Folk Scene (I can state without exaggeration that I was at one point one of the world's leading experts on the nervous system of the sea urchin - in an admittedly small field). Since then I've done umpteen rounds of the folk clubs and festivals, toured various bits of Europe, made several visits Down Under for festivals in Australia and New Zealand, and played regularly in the USA and Canada.
I've always had a thing about traditional songs and music, in particular the Child Ballads, although I'll have a go at all kinds of other stuff as well. I like to research material that no-one else is doing, whether an unfamiliar version of an ancient ballad, a dance tune from a local manuscript, or a bit of blues squeezebox. I've played guitar for more years than I care to remember, and owned my treasured Fylde for 25 of them, but many people know me better as a box player, since I play anglo-concertina and melodeon onstage and teach both of them regularly at workshop weekends.
I made albums for Fellside and Harbourtown before starting my own label, Pugwash (an ironic acknowledgement of a frequent and irksome tune request) on which I've released six CDs. These have ranged from wall-to-wall anglo concertina ("Anglophilia", released 2006) to the new one, "Songs of Trial and Triumph", which consists of fourteen Child Ballads, the ancient story songs of magic, treachery, blood and sex, which I think are the crown jewels of traditional British Folk Song. (I posted up a couple amidst my Myspace tunes).
Go to the website for more biography, more samples and full tour dates. Here's a few reviews to be going on with:
“Brian Peters has long been one of the very best performers in the field of English traditional song and musicâ€
Dirty Linen(USA)
“Terrific choice of songs, spot-on vocals, varied and immaculately played backings - a brilliant CDâ€
The Living Tradition
“A singer with a long and distinguished track recordâ€
fROOTS
“A multi-talented musician and singer who just seems to get better and better each time I see or hear him…. his deep love of traditional music and song are there for all to seeâ€
Folk Northwest
“Brian Peters plunges deep into the ancient songs, finds their power, mystery, evil, drollery and courage, and brings them to us freshâ€
Cornell Unversity Folksong Society, USA
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