Blowzabella has this deep bond with Hastings

The band’s original accordion player Dave Roberts - who sadly died in 1996 - moved to Hastings in the 1980s. He was much loved by one and all and really got the local folk scene going, including helping to create a lasting local tradition in the fantastic Hastings Jack in the Green celebrations.

The band still keep in touch with his family in Hastings and his daughter Alice will be playing a tune on stage on her dad’s accordion with us at St Mary’s. There won’t be a dry eye in the house.

Dave’s replacement in Blowzabella was Andy Cutting who has been nominated for the third time for the BBC Folk Musician of the year 2016.

Andy started as a drummer and percussion player; at 16 he discovered the diatonic button accordion and quickly progressed from local ceilidh bands to joining Blowzabella in 1988. Since then he has worked with many others including Chris Wood, June Tabor, Martin Simpson, Kate Rusby, Roger Daltry and played on over 200 records. Most recently he has a new band Topette with Barnaby Stradling and a trio, Leveret, with Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron.

Blowzabella is a unique band which makes an inimitable, driving, drone-based sound played with a fabulous sense of melody, rhythmic expertise and sheer feeling. They compose their own music which is influenced by English and European traditional dance music.

All the band members compose and many of their tunes are “standards” in the modern British/European folk repertoire and are played by people all over the world. Bands across Europe who experiment with folk music often cite Blowzabella as a major influence. Much loved and respected, there is no one like them. Tickets from 01424 451111 or www.stmaryinthecastle.co.uk