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GARRY BLAKELEY's dynamic fiddle playing is held in high regard by the likes of Peter Knight of Steeleye Span and Barry Dransfield. He has played on both of the recent Barry Dransfield CDs, "Be Your Own Man" and "Wings of the Sphinx". On his own CD, Garry is including a tune written by Barry Dransfield and called "Blakeley's".
Garry's first experience of Irish traditional music was at the age of seven years. His grandfather, from County Down, used to visit and they would play tunes on his mandolins.
Garry 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" in 1974 when Garry was still only eighteen.
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 KPM music library, recordings that are often heard on the television. 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. After Better Days, Garry joined Steve Cooke as the duo ROGUES IN ROSIN who also toured with Steeleye on two occasions and supported Christy Moore where they were recorded live for the Folk On 2 radio programme, performing to a packed house at The Dome, Brighton.
In recent years, Garry has had the luxury of two great fiddle players living locally - Barry Dransfield and Peter Knight. He has spent much time with both of them, playing, talking, investigating and learning.
Since 1993, Garry has been playing professionally with Pete Fyfe in the popular duo Band of Two, clocking up well over 250 gigs in EACH of the last two years.
1995 saw the creation of the Celtic fusion band, the Tabs; yet another severe musical experience for him. The Tabs first CD "Dawn" was released in 1995, and a second is in the process of being recorded.
Other musical experiences include working with Jack McAuley of Poor Mouth, Doug Scarratt of Saxon and ex-Neighbours and Grease star Craig McLachlan!
"Listening to Garry Blakeley for the first time was for me one of those rare happenings where the reality far exceeded the well deserved rumours which inevitably grow around a fine player."
" Whilst his elegant playing of English music reflects "laid back" Sussex perfectly, his grip of Irish music is something very special which surely comes from the echoes of his Irish and Gypsy roots now further exposed in his song writing."
"Self-effacing and honest in his approach, Garry is a pleasure to listen to. Sit back and enjoy his CD - I know I will."
Barry records for Rhiannon Records.
"Although Garry Blakeley has always been recognised and admired as one of the few English fiddlers who has captured the lilt and spirit of traditional Irish dance music, his new album "Out of the Shadows" is certainly an appropriate title for this intriguing collection of music and song. At last a true insight into the man and the beginning of a very worth while journey."
"Thank you Garry."
"The star of the album is really Garry Blakeley's excellent, fiery fiddling". (Review of Band of Two CD, Issue 69, April/May '97)
Recording of Garry's CD is now completed and available. "Out of the Shadows" refers to the fact that Garry has always been "in the shadows" when working with other musicians, though no one could miss his playing!
The tracks are a mixture of English and Irish traditional folk style. A few contempory songs are included, two of which have been written by Garry. Total playing time is over 53 minutes and of the 12 tracks, six are instrumental. As well as demonstrating his prowess on the fiddle, Garry also sings and plays the guitar, mandolin and whistle. Barry Dransfield plays cello, while Paul Sedgwick plays uilleann pipes, Charlie Gask bodhran, and Roger Flack percussion. The price is £11.99.
Reviews of the CD from The Living Tradition, Sing Out!, Rock 'n' Reel, The Sussex Folk Diary, What's On Folks, Folk On Tap, Folkwrite, Taplas, Musician, and The Hastings & St Leonards Observer.