THE BIDFORD BAND

The Bidford Band, originally christened 'The Bidford-on-Avon Square Dance Band', has always been primarily concerned with providing good music for folk dancing: the rhythm and tempo being the most important elements. It tries to provide music that the dancers will enjoy moving to. Most of the band are dancers themselves.

The band became very well known in the 1960’s. It was regularly playing for the BBC programmes 'Dancing English', 'Home Spun' etc. Over the years it has travelled to many venues throughout England, including dances and courses at Cecil Sharp House, Smethwich Baths, Bisham Abbey, Halsway Manor etc., as well as many clubs and festivals.

The current band members are:

John Masterson: Fiddle. Founder and original leader of the band. Revived the Bidford Morris tradition with local boys. Honorary Member of Green Man’s Morris and Shakespeare Morris.

Philip Taylor: Piano Accordion. Current leader. Joined the band in the 1960’s having previously been leader of The Philippians. A musician with the Shakespeare Morris. Researched the Bidford Morris tradition.

Dave Reeves: Rhythm Guitar. Joined in the early 1970’s. A member of the Green Man’s Morris & Sword Club.

Tony Critchley: Bass Guitar. Joined in the 1980’s. A caller and also a member of the Green Man’s Morris & Sword Club.

In August 2008 our drummer Hugh Vaudin died. He lived in Bidford and had joined the band very soon after it was formed. He had previously played piano accordion and in later years the electronic organ for ballroom dancing.  We shall miss his steady rhythm on the snare drum.

During the years other musicians have played in the band, on a regular basis or to cover for absences. Some of those were:

Piano: Margaret Masterson
Piano Accordion: Alex Hamilton, Mary Evans, Derek Style, Leigh Dyer, Rod Stradling & Brian McMinn
Flute: Jo Burgess & Muriel Hunt
Double Bass: Jack Pellatt, Derek Craft, Steve Allcutt, George Pratt & John Gillett
Bass Guitar: Ian Sears & Dick Hunt
Rhythm Guitar: David Bryan, Mick May
Banjo: Mike Smith
Keyboard: Phil Durrant
Fiddle: Karen Hammas, John Adkins
Drums: Dennis Slater, Jack Squires, Percy Cotterill

Bidford Dances Origins | Bidford Dances Home Page | Bidford Band CD Details

This page last updated 19 October 2008