About Me
As a performer, teacher, producer and writer, Tom Wright already has over ten years musical experience. Having performed with a host of different artists in many genres from Jazz to Punk, Tom has recently settled into a musical niche as one of the foremost producers and performers of cutting edge English Folk music.A drummer since the age of six, Tom achieved grade eight drum kit with the Guildhall school of Music at an early age and went on to play with several orchestras and Jazz ensembles in his native Devon. Alongside these groups, Tom also began writing and gigging with his own Rock, Punk and Ska bands and, from the age of around 16, was performing regularly around Exeter and Devon.Having had an interest in traditional music from an early age through parents and friends, Tom had, until comparatively recently, been playing traditional music on Guitar. "I suppose it was to do with portability and accessibility", Tom says. "I wanted to become more familiar with the tunes and tune structures in folk music and that can't really be done as a percussionist. Equally, I didn't have much interest in playing Bodhran or Djembe in a pub session as I didn't feel that would show my talents as a musician well enough".Having carved a niche for himself as a competent folk and traditional guitarist and with several festival appearances and a BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Finalist nomination under his belt, Tom became increasingly aware that there were not enough people doing interesting things with percussion in English music. He continues, "With Celtic music, there's a real rhythmic drive. there are plenty of decent Celtic bodhran, drum kit and percussion players out there doing interesting things but that's not what I am. I'm not a Celtic folk musician, I'm an English folk musician".
With this mindset, Tom went about applying what he'd learnt from playing English rhythms on guitar to the percussion that he was familiar with. "I wanted to be different to anyone else. I love Latin, World, African, Celtic and percussion styles but I wanted to try and create something that was English".With the acts that Tom is working with currently, He is able to perform to packed folk clubs, festival dance tents and concert halls alike all the while combining traditional rhythmic patterns with all manner if different genres.Formerly in Leeds, Tom's studio is currently based near Mansfield in the picturesque village of Edwinstowe in the heart of Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood Country. With plans to operate another location in Newcastle from February 2009, tom divides his time between these two places as well as much location work and touring.Tom is currently a massive fan of: Regal Tip, Rhythm Tech, DiMarzio, Apex, Tamburo, GYC, Dunlop, D'Addario/Evans & Gremlin products
