Kate Hands: Violin
Kate has travelled Europe learning fiddle styles from gypsies and village musicians in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece and the British Isles. She was a founder member of the high-spirited East-European/British roots band, Mukka, as well as playing in bluegrass, ceilidh and klezmer bands and soundsystem/live music crossovers such as “Forty Thieves”.
Rich Baker: Guitar
Rich has played in bands since the 1990s, more recently playing guitar in barn-dances/ceilidhs and bass guitar with The Feuding Lloyds and Balalaika. He enjoys playing many types of folk music, including British, Irish, American, Russian and bluegrass.
Nigel Austen: Accordion and melodeon
Nigel has been playing piano accordion and Russian B-system button accordion for 20 years – He plays regularly with Russian and Klezmer band, Balalaika, performing at weddings,concerts, festivals and corporate events all over the country. Nigel also deps on accordion with a several other bands and plays a range of styles including Cajun , French Musette and country music . He is a keen collector and arranger of folk tunes from the British Isles and has been playing at barndance and ceilidh events for around 10 years.
Rick Townend: Caller, MC and additional violin, guitar and mandolin
Rick has played British and American Folk music since the 1960s, working with the Echo Mountain Band, the Armadillos, Grassroots and the Kent Carters, playing guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin. He has called for barn-dances/ceilidhs for the last fifteen years.
