David Garner & Pete Airey

David Garner Music Biography:

Sidmouth Folk Festival Young Musician of the Year 2006.
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.
Touring Japan with The Blue Jays in 2007.

Born in Durham, NE East England, 1985.
Involved with Folkworks events from a very early age, being taken by my parents to workshops and concerts.
Sang in folk clubs from about age 6.
Took up the fiddle aged 9 at school.
First gig aged 10 with my brother Paul and sister Ruth and dad John.
Played with the Redheughers Ceilidh Band run by Robin Dunn in Gateshead for several years.
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.
Joined the school ceilidh band, Celtic Caboodle, played on stage with Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham aged about 15.
Joined the Gallovidians, a Scots fiddle orchestra aged 14.
Dumfries and Galloway Young Musician of the Year 2001.
Won 2nd prize in the Junior RSAMD Strings Competition 2001.

Currently at the University of Bristol studying Engineering Design.
Busk in Bath every summer as a job.
Play in sessions around Bristol and Bath several times a week.
Currently teach the advanced fiddle class at my local Irish club, The Hibernia in Avonmouth.
Also teach students of all ages and standards in Bristol and Bath.
Play with lots of bands, mainly Black Cat, a 4-piece trad Irish band based in Bristol and the Blue Jays, a Country & Western / Americana band based in Bath.
Started duo with Pete Airey, another member of Black Cat.

Pete Airey Music Biography:

1960s & 1970s:
Started playing the guitar from the age of 8 following example of jazz pianist father. First public performance classical guitar at school concert in London.
While at University in Bristol, played at Troopadour & Stonehouse folk clubs.
Formed band with Dave Evans and recorded highly regarded and recently re-released album “The Words In Between” also featuring Keith Warmington (Radio Bristol) & Adrieene Weber.
Briefly guitarist with legendary Bristol band Magic Muscle (replaced for being too folky and not taking enough drugs!)

1975:
Duo with well-known singer-songwriter Steve Tilston
1976:
Joined folk –rock band Gryphen lead by Bafta winning Film and TV writer Richard Harvey currently working with John Williams.
1977:
Formed The Banned signed by EMI, had a UK Top 10 hit “Little Girl” and performed on Top of the Pops.
1979:
Formed Real to Real album “Tightrope Walkers” on Pye Records
1981:
Writing partnership with Real to Real keyboard player Alan Wilder who later auditioned for Depeche Mode when Vince Clark left and got the job!
1983:
Joined reggae band Stigma and recorded at Abbey Road Studio
1986:
Formed blues duo with Greg Johnson-King; toured throughout south-west England
1989:
Airey P Band record album and gig in London
1995:
Formed Bristol duo The Bravados with singer-songwriter Andy Hiles and recorded an album in 1999.
2000:
Duo with young jazz singer Becky Monday in Bristol.
2003:
Formed duo with singer-songwriter Nick Roll doing latin & jazz influenced material and currently gigging in Bristol and south-west of England, usually under the name Acustica. Often joined by Colombian singer, percussionist and flautist Alberto Ramon to form a trio and in 6 piece band format as latin band Puravida. These projects are on going and currently recording and gigging.
2005:
After taking up the Irish fiddle teamed up with Jeff & David Garner to form the folk act the Black Cats.