“There’s something of the proverbial elder statesman about Peter Knight, in terms of his place in music, which cannot be overstated. It’s not just in the quality of his playing…there’s a focus on the sheer inventiveness of Peter’s playing, in the adventurous arrangements he shares with his collaborators, and in his musical leadership”
Northern Sky Magazine
Since his inaugural performance with the fledgling Steeleye Span in 1970, Peter Knight has been a stalwart of the British folk scene.
Never a musician to rest on his laurels, Peter has carved a reputation as a questing musician “as mercurial as quicksilver” (Simon Jones/fRoots), and this special and rare concert offers to the opportunity to see him in two of his current line-ups…with the Gigspanner Trio and as a duo with Bellowhead’s co-founder, John Spiers, melodeon player extraordinaire.
Peter Knight’s Gigspanner Trio
In the wake of his departure from Steeleye Span, legendary fiddle player Peter Knight turned his full attention to his trio Gigspanner, and established their reputation as one of the most genuinely ground-breaking forces on the British folk scene, inspiring Maverick magazine to write “Gigspanner are pushing at the boundaries, and in the process are making some of the most beautiful music the genre has to offer” 5***** Maverick Magazine
Described by Folk Radio UK as one of the “most quietly brilliant sets of musicians in the folk world and beyond”, they take self-penned material along with music rooted in the British Isles and beyond, and with the flick of a bow, a finely chosen chord or slip of a beat, produce richly atmospheric arrangements “with notes seemingly plucked from the stars and rhythms from the equator” (Spiral Earth).
Peter Knight and John Spiers
The exquisite explorations of the liminal space that exists between traditional and classical music is what makes the music of Peter Knight and John Spiers so compelling and beguiling, ultimately rendering genres irrelevant.
The duo has developed into one of the most thrilling exponents of traditional tunes and songs, repurposing the material as jumping-off points into the most enchanting exploration
The pairing of violin and melodeon is not a new one, but in the hands of Peter Knight (Steeleye Span) and John Spiers (Bellowhead), improvisation and invention meet the listener at every turn.
Originally brought together by FolkEast Festival for a one-off concert in 2016, their partnership has blossomed into “One of the most intriguing and exciting collaborations on today’s folk scene” FRUK
“There can be no doubt that both performers are amongst the most, if not the most, talented of their peers. I was probably not the only person to leave the venue in awe at having witnessed something very special” Fatea Magazine