Fiona – Keyboard, Whistle, Dance Caller
Folk music started for Fiona with her Dad’s acoustic guitar and her local folk club in Sevenoaks. Three years in Sheffield got her into traditional music and ceilidh dancing, but it wasn’t until she moved up to the Lakes and met Bill and Ali Lloyd that the opportunity came to play in a ceilidh band – as guitarist for Devil’s Gallop. This gave her the chance to watch other callers in action and with Martyn Harvey’s encouragement and support she took her first calling booking – a Harvest supper in Windermere using tapes. She soon realised that calling with a live band would be much more fun and jumped at the offer of a gig with a local band - a certain Tumbling Tom by name!
The departure of one of the Tumbling Tom members in the late 90’s gave an opening to join the line up and play harmonies or improvise around the tunes on keyboard and whistle. She loves being able to combine the calling and the playing, but also enjoys just calling with other bands, either local ones such as Jigbusters and Free Reed Band, or nationally known bands at festivals, the latest ones being with 422 at Whitby and the Simon Care Trio at Otley..
She lives in Kendal with husband Pete, their children being scattered near and far, from Kendal to London and Japan! What spare time there is after the job and the music is spent with family and friends relaxing!
