Bowstring

First class ceilidh/barn dance band playing Irish, Scottish, English and Americana for listening and dancing.

Bowstring bring together some of the most skilled and experienced performers in their field. Whether it’s St.Patrick’s, St. Andrew’s, St. George’s Day or Americana Bowstring offer a full evening’s entertainment of music for dancing or songs for listening or a mixture of both, whatever the venue, at any time of year and anywhere in the world, be it indoors or outdoors, a private function, barn dance, ceilidh, concert or festival.

Band leader and multi-instrumentalist Chris began his musical career by, unknowingly, copying early blues & country players by making guitars from oil cans, bits of wood & wire from brake cables. A practice still found in parts of Africa today. He spent the 1960's emulating blues musicians further by immersing himself in the music of the Mississippi Delta. His influences are numerous from Robert Johnson to Richard Thompson, The Kinks to Christy Moore, from Jackie Daly to Sonny Terry. After seeing the Boys of the Lough (with Dick Gaughan), Carthy & Swarbrick in the early 1970's, he began to take a different turn, including music from various parts of the British Isles. Once his ears had been opened, he diversified further by including music from all over Europe along with Gypsy jazz. Chris continues to successfully mix these different styles in the different outfits he has played in. As well as Guitar, Chris is an exponent of the Bouzouki, Mandolin, Button Accordion and Mouth Organ (both blues harp and the rare but brilliant Irish tin sandwich!) Chris plays with enthusiasm and drive and consequently is in great demand by other musicians. Chris is a powerhouse of a musician who can make a duo into a band and a band into something really special.