Alistair Brown

21st March
Tickets: Members $7 Non-members $12. Door Sales only.

Alistair Brown has been singing the old songs, and new songs written by people who like the old songs, since he was fifteen years old. He began his career helping out in the folk clubs of his native Scotland during what Utah Phillips called the great folk scare of the 60s, opening bottles (and occasionally concerts) for many of the great names in folk music.

From 1972 to 2002, he lived in Canada, where he was active in many aspects of folk song and dance, as a recording artist, radio broadcaster, reviewer, columnist, festival director, dance teacher, university lecturer, and program director at folk music and dance camps. With several visits each year, he continues to make regular appearances in North American folk clubs and festivals, performing solo, or with the Friends of Fiddler's Green, with whom he has played for over 36 years.

In 2002, he returned to the UK, to live in Cornwall, on England's Mediterranean coast, where he calls dances with the Newlyn Reelers and performs regularly in folk clubs, festivals, pub sessions and several ancient seasonal rituals that require the presence of accordions.

When he's not performing solo, he sings and plays with Feague, and with Hudson Swan. He is also a member of the Golowan Band, which leads the processions for the Mazey Day and Montol festivities in Penzance.

Audiences at concerts and festivals across North America, Australia, New Zealand and the UK have responded enthusiastically to his performances, covering the field from big ballads, comic ditties, songs of struggles (usually unsuccessful) against temptation, odes to conviviality and songs of unashamed sentimentality, to outrageously funny stories from a master of the art - all this accompanied by anglo concertina, button accordion and harmonica. He has entertained groups of elementary and secondary school pupils from 20 to 300 with songs and stories, been MC at many festivals and concerts, including hosting a symphony concert for an audience of 5000, and been guest on numerous radio and television programmes. He has called dances and has played in numerous dance bands. He has run courses on folk music in university and summer music camps, and has taught folk dance for many years. From 1978 to 2002, he was producer/ host of A Sign of the Times, heard on radio station CIXX fm London, Ontario. For five years he also hosted Off She Goes, syndicated nationally in the USA on National Public Radio.

Alistair has performed in Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada, as well as in clubs and festivals in the UK.

http://www.alistairbrown.com/