Harpwood
Harpwood : three musicians playing a mishmash of bluegrass, country music and songs from the fifties and sixties that can be adapted to banjo and/or acoustic guitars, with a bit of harmony thrown in for good measure.
Never going to be famous or greatly sought after, but we enjoy ourselves.
Originally, Brian and Mick got together in December 2009 to do a couple of spots at the folk club in Cahors, we both liked what we did and decided to take it a step further..... amplification! Since then we have played mostly in bars, restaurants, at music festivals and private party gigs.
We are:
Brian Harpwood ....... lead vocal, guitar and banjo
François Cavé ............ mandolin
Mick Gardiner ............ harmony vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica and congas,
plus... an ancient Yamaha RX5 sequencer, programmed to play
the bass and drum lines, as unobtrusively as possible???
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We started off as "Panama Red" but our well meaning friends hated the name and persuaded us to change it... we might attract the "wrong" crowd .....who cares, any crowd would be welcome! I mean, we are in deepest, darkest south-west France.
Never going to be famous or greatly sought after, but we enjoy ourselves.
Originally, Brian and Mick got together in December 2009 to do a couple of spots at the folk club in Cahors, we both liked what we did and decided to take it a step further..... amplification! Since then we have played mostly in bars, restaurants, at music festivals and private party gigs.
We are:
Brian Harpwood ....... lead vocal, guitar and banjo
François Cavé ............ mandolin
Mick Gardiner ............ harmony vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica and congas,
plus... an ancient Yamaha RX5 sequencer, programmed to play
the bass and drum lines, as unobtrusively as possible???
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
We started off as "Panama Red" but our well meaning friends hated the name and persuaded us to change it... we might attract the "wrong" crowd .....who cares, any crowd would be welcome! I mean, we are in deepest, darkest south-west France.
Brian Harpwood
Born in London, grew up in Berkshire, lived in West Wiltshire and migrated to France ten years ago. I became besotted with the guitar at the age of thirteen, much to the disappointment of my father, who was a proper musician, but he did buy me a guitar, and then washed his musical hands of me..... it's been downhill ever since.
Initially playing country music, I moved through pop, rock and soul, then back to country. Spent a couple of years playing the American bases in Germany, after which I finally got round to the banjo. This was followed by bluegrass ensembles and a long, long time in bands on the UK country circuit.
For what it's worth, I've learned that you can never practice enough, you should never, never, ever put all your faith and trust in your fellow musicians, and playing music with other people is like all things emotive... it often ends in tears ...but we all keep doing it. So enjoy it whilst you can.
Initially playing country music, I moved through pop, rock and soul, then back to country. Spent a couple of years playing the American bases in Germany, after which I finally got round to the banjo. This was followed by bluegrass ensembles and a long, long time in bands on the UK country circuit.
For what it's worth, I've learned that you can never practice enough, you should never, never, ever put all your faith and trust in your fellow musicians, and playing music with other people is like all things emotive... it often ends in tears ...but we all keep doing it. So enjoy it whilst you can.
Mick Gardiner
I was born in Germany (not my fault!), grew up in London, lived in wild and woolly Wales for 15 years, then, realising that climate was important to personal well-being, moved to Southern France 25 years ago, where I've been ever since.
Started dabbling on guitar in my early youth, and many years later, I'm still dabbling! Whilst living here I took up playing the harmonica, and then percussion, as there seemed to be an unfulfilled demand for it in the Cahors area. I have played with Smokestack, Bluegrass Express and more recently Stayloose.
I endorse Brian's remarks about trust and fellow musicians! But seriously, practice, coupled with pleasure, do seem to be the essential ingredients in playing music for oneself and eventually other people. Long may it continue!
Started dabbling on guitar in my early youth, and many years later, I'm still dabbling! Whilst living here I took up playing the harmonica, and then percussion, as there seemed to be an unfulfilled demand for it in the Cahors area. I have played with Smokestack, Bluegrass Express and more recently Stayloose.
I endorse Brian's remarks about trust and fellow musicians! But seriously, practice, coupled with pleasure, do seem to be the essential ingredients in playing music for oneself and eventually other people. Long may it continue!
François Cave
Born in Normandy, I discovered how to play my first guitar chords at the Maison des Jeunes. The guitar playing of Marcel Dadi and the late Doc Watson were my early points of reference. Later, I fell in love with the mandolin after listening to such gifted musicians as Sam Bush and David Grisman.....
I am passionate about Irish music and bluegrass, and for me, music only has meaning if it has a sincerity that can be shared with others.
Born in Normandy, I discovered how to play my first guitar chords at the Maison des Jeunes. The guitar playing of Marcel Dadi and the late Doc Watson were my early points of reference. Later, I fell in love with the mandolin after listening to such gifted musicians as Sam Bush and David Grisman.....
I am passionate about Irish music and bluegrass, and for me, music only has meaning if it has a sincerity that can be shared with others.
