We are a new band offering music for high energy contras as our main theme to promote the new growing following for this dance interest from New England USA, publicised by Rodney Miller's appearance at Sidmouth festival last year 2003. We are also prepared to take on weddings and barn dances and such like.
The line up is Alan Corkett - accordion (lead), Sue Rivett - fiddle, Hazel Ridd - keyboard. We can easily augment for large occasions.
Telephone - Alan Corkett - 01278 732202
How the Meltdown Band started
"It all started rather accidentally at an evening in Bicknoller village hall about two years ago when a "Come All Ye" was requested to play for an evening when Halsway club callers were filling the bill.
Alan Corkett had asked Hazel Ridd to be the anchor man (or person) on electronic keyboard to hold together all the other players who might arrive. Hazel brought her fiddler friend Sue Rivett and it all went from there really.
Our first proper gig was to raise funds for two marathon runners in a village near Tiverton in the following March when a guitarist and bass player joined in too.
The following September there was a possibility to play regularly each month for Halsway Contra Club with Ron Rudd as tutor. This has gone from strength to strength.There were several other bookings, gigs at Weddings and club events (Willand), then having played for Halsway Members weekend and some foreign visiting teams at the Minehead Dance festival an invitation was received to play at Sidmouth Folk Week summer 2006.
So quite a rapid rise in performance to satisfy 13 gigs in 7 days, kept us on our toes, in between the fish and chips and dancing to enter into the spirit of festival.
I suppose next we have to make a CD and let people play it before they book! Or we start rehearsing for the next festival! who knows?"
For more information go to Halsway Manor website >
