listair
Brown has been singing the old songs, and new songs written by
people who like the old songs, since he was fifteen years old. His
career began helping out in the folk clubs of his native Scotland
during the great folk scare of the 60s, opening bottles (and
occasionally concerts ) for many of the great names in folk music,
and performing guest spots whenever the sound man wasn't
looking
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, columnist, festival director, dance teacher, university lecturer, and program director at folk music and dance camps. With several visits each year, he continues to be a regular performer in North American folk clubs and festivals, often as a card-carrying member of the Friends of Fiddler's Green.
In 2002, he returned to the UK, to live in Cornwall, on England's Mediterranean coast, where he calls dances and performs regularly in folk clubs, festivals, pub sessions and several ancient seasonal rituals that require the presence of accordions.
Recently, Alistair has joined up with Niall Timmins (Hunter's Moon) and Hudson Swan (Tannahill Weavers) along with John & Marian Heath to form Feague. He is also a member of the Golowan Band, which leads the processions for the Mazey Day and Montol festivities in Penzance, as well as participating in several other events in Cornwall, such as Bodmin Riding and Kernow Gorsedd.
Audiences at concerts and festivals across North America 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. One minute he has them enthralled with a Child ballad, and the next, falling about as he describes the communication difficulties of a Glasgow holidaymaker and a Spanish barman.
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, has 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.
"Mastery of storytelling in song" ... London Free Press
"Shone vocally.." (with Orchestra London) ... Scene Magazine
"Outrageously entertaining" ... John C. Campbell Folk School
"Every minute.... was exceptional" ... Macon County Arts Council, North Carolina
"Two grand masters of traditional singing brought out the best of each other, and the songs, to the absolute joy of everybody" (concert with Danny Spooner) ... Camperdown, Victoria, Australia
Next summer Alistair is programme director for Folk Music Week at Pinewoods, Massachussetts, run by the Country Dance and Song Society of America. We hope you will join us. For details, see http://www.cdss.org/fm/
In moments of quiet reflection, Alistair dances with
Thames
Valley Morris and the Toronto Morris Men.
From 1973 to 2002, he was MC and an organizer of The
Cuckoo's Nest Folk Club, regularly bringing top folk
performers to London Ontario
From 1978 to 2002, he was producer/ host of A Sign of the Times, heard on CIXX fm London (106.9). For five years he also hosted Off She Goes, syndicated nationally in the USA on National Public Radio.
Phone/Fax (519) 473-2099 Cell (519) 319-5847
idea@iandavies.com
