Clare – caller
I have been dancing and calling for quite a few years. When I was a student I attended dance classes and got Bronze, Silver and Gold in Ballroom dancing and soon after started going to folk dances. From there I joined a Morris side and soon was learning Appalachian and English clog. I am a dance teacher at Regency ReJigged and really love performing Jane Austen period dances in the Stately Homes of the North West of England. I help to run Little Longborough Dance Club where I enjoy calling a wide range of more complex dances. I have danced at festivals all around the country and abroad – I particularly enjoyed explaining dances in Russian to dance students in St. Petersburg!
Frank – lead violin
I started the band some 25 years ago but have been playing violin for more than 50 years! I love going to different events and watch people enjoy themselves. I am the lead musician in Regency ReJigged and we perform in Stately Homes from Lytham Hall to Chatsworth House. I also help run Little Longborough Dance Club and organise the music. The Club meets twice a month in Rainford Village Hall. I have also played in Appalachian and Morris sides. I play at sessions and have attended folk events all around the country and abroad – America, Russia France, Spain etc. When not playing for others I love dancing myself and feel this is a great advantage in my playing.
http://www.regency-rejigged.org.uk
http://littlelongboroughdanceclub.org.uk
Brian – melodeon
I started playing melodeon in the early 70s, and danced and played for Cotswold Morris sides for about 10 years. My family intervened, but I have been back playing seriously since 2005. I collect melodeons and do minor repairs to them as well as play. I enjoy dancing as well as playing. I’ve been to musician workshops at various venues over the years, and enjoy learning new tunes and techniques. I also go to sessions locally, weekly and monthly, and am also responsible for the Chorley Slow and Steady session run every month at Eaves Green Community Centre near Chorley. I’ve been playing with Frank and the Change of Key band for about 9 years.
http://chorleytradmusicsessions.org.uk
Ian – violin
I was taught basics of violin playing as a child, but laid the instrument aside to learn to play guitar following the teenage rush to play the pop music of the sixties. The folk music bug bit later and I learned to play mandolin, not realising that the violin played as a fiddle was the ideal instrument for the music that I really loved to play. Since I developed my fiddle playing I’ve played with several Lancashire Folk groups during the last 40 years, played as a strolling minstrel at the local Medieval banqueting hall for 35 years. I currently play for Morris and Sword dancing teams and join in pub music sessions wherever possible as well as, through Frank’s encouragement, for Regency Players and Change of Key.
Steve – guitar
I took up guitar when I was 14 when the Beatles emerged and have sung in choirs and folk clubs since then. For many years I have been part of the Dodgers singing folk, country and 60s music and playing guitar, mandola, banjo and bass. For over 25 years I have been part of Soyaband who accompany Leap To Your Feet Appalachian Dancers which is where I met Frank. I have played with Frank in Change of Key for almost as long. I play with Frank and Ian in the Regency Players accompanying Regency Re-Jigged. I took up guitar making due to the difficulty of obtaining decent left-handed instruments and often play them for concerts.
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