Feast of Fiddles play Havant on their 31st annual tour

Hastings-based Garry Blakeley (Band of Two) joins fellow fiddlers Phil Beer (Show of Hands), Marion Fleetwood (Trad Arr, Sandy Denny Project), Mark Jolley (Banter), Tom Leary (Joe Brown) and Simon Swarbrick (Merry Hell) to bring a diversity of fiddle-playing styles to the rock back-line – all held together by drummer Dave Mattacks.

Dates on the road include the Bexhill Academy Theatre on Monday, February 23 (0797 0010002 or https://wegottickets.com/event/678756) and The Pallant Centre, Havant on

Friday, February 27 (https://wegottickets.com/event/679460).

Garry said: “It is tour number 31 but I personally did my first Feast of Fiddles gig in Jersey in 2000. I've done 25 years. That was a one-off festival gig but because I'm based in Hastings I knew Peter Knight who lived in Hastings for a long time and was in Steeleye Span and he would invite me to play at particular Feast of Fiddles gigs when not everyone was available.

“I didn't really have any idea what I was doing at first but it was just exciting. People say to me is it just a bunch of fiddlers scratching away on some tunes but actually it's more like a show band. There are wonderful arrangements. It is powerhouse rock really.

“These guys have been playing together for 30 years and it's quite a show with a huge range of music. Each fiddle player gets featured during the course of the concert. Mine has got an Eastern European flavour this time. But each concert can range from English folk to acoustic violin right through to Simon who really rocks. And we've got a guy called Mark Jolley who is joining us for the first time this time and he is bringing a very strong American flavour. It quite bluegrass based. It's the first time we've had that kind of American approach which is great.

“I was like a dep in the early days and I would come in when I was needed for the first few years but I've been a full member from about 2010 and I'm just really pleased to be part of it. It's fantastic to do.

“I have lived in Hastings pretty much all my life, and Hastings is unbelievable for music. All the genres of music are here whether it is folk or rock or jazz or whatever. Hastings just seems to attract musicians. I've known people that have come down for a weekend and then have moved down here because of the music scene. We're all very spoiled. I've got great guitar players that I can play with and great drummers that I can play with. There is never any shortage of musicians in Hastings. It’s a place that really stands out.”