Choonz

David Garner - Fiddle

Joint Sidmouth Folk Festival Young Musician of the Year 2006 with Brian Haitz. All-Scotland and All-Britain Fiddle Champion. Interviewed on the BBC's Culture Show Nov 2006 and BBC Points West June 2006.Recently guested with James Fagan. Dumfries and Galloway Young Musician of the Year 2001. Won 2nd prize in the Junior RSAMD Strings Competition 2001.

Born in Durham, NE East England, 1985.
He played with the Redheughers Ceilidh Band run by Robin Dunn in Gateshead for several years. He moved to Scotland (Dumfries & Galloway) aged 13 and studied classical violin and piano at the Junior Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, between the ages of 13-17. David joined the school ceilidh band, Celtic Caboodle, played on stage with Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham aged 15. Joined the Gallovidians, a Scots fiddle orchestra aged 14.

Formed inventive folk/roots band ‘Choonz’ with guitarist Brian Haitz in 2006.

Brian Haitz - Guitar

Joint Sidmouth Folk Festival Young Musician of the Year 2006 with David Garner.

Born and grown in SW Germany, he learned the tin whistle aged 4 and played on stage from age 8. Moved on to the flute at the age of 10 with lessons by e.g. Eamon Cotter. Played in traditional band "Ceolta Eirinn" from the age 8 to 16, as well as playing gigs with, Alsace-based, Irish trad. band "Ha'penny Bridge" later. Took up guitar aged 14 under the influence of french dadgad-guitarist Patrick Dubouè.
Guitar playing varies from melody accompaniment over dynamic rhythmic strumming on to soft fingerpicking. Influences from blues, jazz, bluegrass and rock can be heard in chording patterns. Style is often described as laid-back but yet aggressive as can be.

A founder member of ‘Choonz’.

Paul Garner - Whistles

Several All-Britain as well as All-Scotland and Midlands region Comhaltas titles on tin whistle, slow airs and miscellaneous (low whistle), as well as the Newcastleton music festival.

Paul joined ‘Choonz’ one year later when meeting at Sidmouth Folk Festival 2007.