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Band of Two is the title of the collaboration between multi-instrumentalists GARRY BLAKELEY and PETE FYFE. Much of Garry and Pete's common interests combine in their approach to predominantly traditional Celtic songs and tunes and their enjoyment of performing comes across in their entertaining style.
Since the duo formed in January 1993, they have performed at numerous pubs and clubs throughout the country and have established themselves as firm favourites on the festival circuit including Trowbridge, Pontardawe and Kendal where they have gained an enviable reputation as one of the most powerful acts on the circuit.
1995 was the duo's busiest year ever with 242 bookings (29 of these in December alone!) which have taken them from pubs to opening Irish theme bars plus festival and concert appearances and even a support to ex-Neighbours and Grease star Craig McLachlan. Although an unusual combination, this proved to be a major success with an audience comprising mainly of screaming youngsters aged from about fourteen!
1996 has seen BAND OF TWO just as busy, with a return to foreign tours with gigs lined up in Germany throughout 1996.
BAND OF TWO are available for a wide variety of functions including: concerts, folk club and pub sessions, folk/ceilidh dances and a special package to Arts Centres is also available including a workshop on tunes and accompaniment plus a main concert and finishing with a short dance.
Fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bodhran, whistle, vocals.
GARRY BLAKELEY studied violin and piano at Dartington College of Arts in Devon, England. A founder member of the group FOUR POSTER BED along with Nigel Chippendale, Garry was also a member of the popular resident group for the Black Horse (Telham) folk club near Hastings THE MARINERS who recorded an album for EMI entitled "The Best of Folk".
He was a founder member of the internationally known group BRIAN BORU who are noted for their command of Irish instrumental music and have made numerous recordings for the BBC library. Garry also toured Scandinavia with the successful Celtic group SPITZKARINE who recorded an album of the same name.
More recently, he has played with folk-rock band BETTER DAYS whose cassette, "Playing for Time", received a favourable review in Folk Roots magazine. The band also toured with Steeleye Span. Garry's last project was ROGUES IN ROSIN who also toured with Steeleye on two occasions and supported Christy Moore where they were recordedlive for the Folk On 2 radio programme, performing to a packed house at The Dome, Brighton.
Garry has played on both of the recent Barry Dransfield CDs, "Be Your Own Man" and "Wings of the Sphinx". Garry recently recorded a solo album which was released in November, 1996. He also plays with the Celtic-Rock band, The Tabs.
Guitars, mandolin, tenor banjo, bouzouki, whistle, vocals.
Pete Fyfe has an established reputation in the folk and folk-rock circuit with appearances at practically every major British folk festival including Cambridge, Towersey and Fairport Reunions. He was a founder member of several bands such as THE KITCHEN BAND, EAVESDROPPER and COLLABORATION all of whom proved popular in their own right recording several albums along the way including the acclaimed "The March Hair" - the title track being used as the introduction music for several folk radio programmes.
For some years, Pete worked as Tenor Banjo and Mandolin player with the popular folk comedian NOEL MURPHY (a position originally held by Davy "Shaggis" Johnston now lead musician for Elton John's Band). Pete also became resident musician for the Irish dance team CLANN NA GAEL.
As a session msician, Pete worked on recordings with RICHARD DIGANCE, POORMOUTH and COSMOTHEKA. Like Garry, Pete has also toured supporting Christy Moore, Fairport Convention, etc.
Pete was quoted in TIME OUT magazine as having "...fingers like crazed maggots on LSD"!
"What You See..." is the first CD to be recorded by Band Of Two, following the successful sales of their own cassette. It captures the high impact sound of their live appearances, from the popular sing-along numbers to the driving fiddle tunes that defy any listener to sit still. The CD runs to nearly 68 minutes of music, making the price of £9.99 especially attractive.
Reviews of CD from Folk On Tap, Dirty Linen and The Sussex Folk Diary.
