Bouzouki Bellows!
Sara Daniels, Paul Hancock & Mark T.
Pictures: Brian Harrington, Martyn Yeates, Sue T.
Bouzouki Bellows! Are a new band playing Irish and Celtic music with songs from Sara Daniels.
The line up is: Sara Daniels concertina, vocals and guitar, Paul Hancock Uillean pipes and whistles and
Mark T. Bouzouki and bodhran.
Paul and Mark have been playing together, on and off, since the early 1980's and in 1981 they were South of England busking champions. Since then they have played throughout England and Wales and have done two tours of Brittany. They were also both involved in the ground breaking World Music fusion band Mark T. and the Brickbats, who made two critically acclaimed albums in the mid 80's. In the 1990's they released another critically acclaimed album A Parting Gift together with guitarist Dave Maggs.
Paul is a regular session musician and has appeared on numerous recordings including releases by
Gerald T. Moore (Heron & Reggae Guitars) as well as guesting with a multitude of younger artists across all areas of the musical spectrum, he plays regularly at the Piper's Club in London.
Mark T. is an established folk, blues and roots musician. He is an Arts Council Award Winner, Southern Arts Year of the Artist Award Winner and GSMC Live Artist of the Year. He has released twelve albums in his own right and appeared on many more. As a community musician he has worked on over thirty commissions.
Sara has been involved in the Irish and English folk music scene for many years and has played with both Paul and Mark many times since the eighties in sessions, arts centers and folk clubs. This is the first time they have formally come together as a regular band. They do a number of Sara's self penned songs many of which can be found on Sara's excellent album Lightly on My Heart. Sara's songs have been covered by a number of established singers including: Niamh Parsons, Karine Polwart, Jo Philby and Hilary Ward.
Sara's song Where Are You Bound For? Was chosen to be part of an archive in America commemorating Pete Seeger's 90th birthday celebrations in 2009.
Live gigs:
2024
Peppard Unplugged, 9th March, 2024
Newtown Pippin, Bracknell, 15th March, 2024
BBC Radio South, 10:15am, 17th March 2024 - Live in the studio
Red Lion Pub, Upper Basildon, Berkshire. 17th March 2024. 2.00 pm St. Patrick's
Readifolk, Reading. Sunday 7th April, 2024
Bodmin Folk Club - Friday 17th May.
Ship Inn Arts Centre, Ashford Hill, - Saturday 14th September.
Bluecoats Medieval Chapel, Thatcham Festival - October date TBC
2023
Friday 14th July, Ace Space, Newbury.
Red Lion Pub, Upper Basildon, Berkshire, 22nd September 2023.
Tuesday 10th October, Bluecoats Medieval Chapel, Thatcham Festival.
29th November, Newtown Pippin, Bracknell
Quotes:
Richly varied influences and considerable talents on whistle, pipes and bouzouki.
They produce a collection of music which is delightfully melodic.
R2
Tonight's set of predominantly Irish music opened with the wonderfully named Geese in the Bog. Sara's own composition The Thought of You, a sensitive and lyrical piece was outstanding ... three extremely skilled musicians who play in a wide variety of folk styles.
NWN
They achieve a satisfying balance between the ethereal and the rhythmic.
fROOTS
'Playboy of the Western World' was greatly enhanced and rounded off by the superb playing of Paul Hancock and Mark T.
Wokingham Times
Lovely, straight, instrumental music.
Kindred Spirit
CONTACT MARK T.
Here are three videos of Sara, Paul & Mark
We hope you enjoy them.
