Andy Clark
First published in Folk on Tap – Spring 2006 - Issue 107 – reprinted with permission
When that doyen of the folk world Pete Coe describes a fellow performer as an “excellent singer and instrumentalist who performs with the skill and taste of a master craftsman” the performer in question warrants closer investigation.
Devon born and bred Andy Clarke has been involved in the folk scene from a very early age when his single parent father Don, an accomplished artiste in his own right, used to take him to folk clubs in the mid sixties. Don was a devotee of American folk music but the young Andy soon developed a love of traditional British music.
At the age of 16 Andy joined the Signals Regiment and spent most of his 8 year army career in Germany, which was where his desire to become a performer materialised buying his first guitar at the age of 18. Folk records available at that time in the NAFFI were limited to the likes of the Corries and the Spinners so when Andy happened upon Chris Foster’s album “Layers”, a favourite to this day, he knew that this was his intended direction.
Armed with a guitar and some lessons from his dad when home on leave, Andy began performing both solo and band gigs on the thriving German folk circuit, honing his considerable skills.
Upon leaving the army and returning to Devon, Andy continued his involvement in the folk scene playing with local ceilidh bands, performing with piper Nick Scott, who is currently enjoying success with Last Night’s Fun, plus some solo gigging and he also found time to help run the Torquay Folk Club for a while.
His return to Blighty coincided with meeting another influential musician, Devon based Brummie guitarist/lutenist/concertina player/singer, Mick Bramich with who Andy played in the unlikely sounding band Monkey and the Chainsaw alongside yet another Brummie refugee Les Noden. It was Mick, (described by Andy as “my mentor”), who encouraged Andy to seek out source material and inject it with the unique Clarke character, one that tells the story of the song not only through the lyrics but also through his approach to musical accompaniment, a holistic approach to song arrangement if you will! I have often though that Andy’s delivery of a song has the similar powerful resonance to that displayed by the “gaffer”, Martin Carthy.
One aspect of Andy’s live performance that make such a good time is the considerable humour that is integral to his gigs – perhaps a live album next.
This humour came to the fore at his recent gig at the Teignmouth Folk Club, with his opening remarks. His description of how, 30 minutes before the gig, he needed to replace a broken finger nail with a false nail and the resulting disaster involving superglue, kitchen roll and sandpaper was all the funnier for being true – allegedly! The gig provided Andy with the opportunity to feature songs and tunes from his two CDs. Amongst the predominantly traditional material such as “limbo”, “Bold Reynard”, “The Trees They Do Grow High” and “The Old Miner” (for my money the standout track from his latest CD). Andy did a couple of fine songs from the baring Gould collection, and in addition there was a sprinkling of more contemporary songs such as “Over the Hills” – a hauntingly beautiful song written by local musician Bob Stevens and “Sally Free and easy” a tribute to the late lamented Cyril Tawney. Just for good measure Andy threw in a set of 3/2 hornpipes that showcased his guitar prowess to the full.
Andy is extremely open about his influences, Chris Foster, Bob Fox and in particular Nic Jones. More recently Andy has received encouragement from that “one man folk festival” Pete Coe. It was through his association with Pete Coe that Andy became interested in Appalachian flat footing a style of dancing in which Andy became very proficient. For some years dancing with local side, Shuffle the Deck.
Although Andy does include some contemporary material in his performances he is primarily a lover of traditional music. Being a devotee of the tradition Andy has been particularly impressed with the Topic Records’ voice of the people series, but also listens to the likes of SWAP, Baaba Maal and Sweddish trio Vasen. On the live front – Spiers and Boden, James Fagan and Nancy Kerr, Pete Coe and Bob Fox are, in his opinion, all acts that cut the mustard at present.
A major point in his musical career came a few years ago upon the release of his first CD “Broadsword and Liberty” to critical local acclaim. Although justifiably proud of the album he found that despite the fact that festival promoters and folk club organisers were suitably impressed, Andy was joined on the album by some of Devon’s finest folk musicians and the album was therefore not fully representative of his live solo performances. This situation has now been resolved with the release of a solo 6 track eponymously titled album, which has resulted in high acclaim together with more club and festival bookings, among them this year’s Chippenham, Teignmouth and Towersey festivals plus interest from a number of festivals for 2007.
The question of the booking policies on the folk scene at the moment is one that Andy has definite views upon.
“As well as the talented artistes that are coming out of music colleges there is a wealth of talent and experience within the local club scene that up until recently have not had the opportunity (or backing!) to be seen by a wider audience, but hopefully now, with the relative ease with which you can record and print half a dozen tracks onto CD to send out from your home, if more festivals and clubs are prepared to take a few chances we would see a lot more people who wouldn’t otherwise have the chance of coming to the fore.”
As well as being a consummate performer, Andy is also widely experienced in providing workshops in song and Celtic tune accompaniment on bouzouki and guitar in his favoured “drop D” tuning. On the subject of instruments, Andy uses a dreadnought guitar made by the Exeter luthier David Oddy, purveyor of instruments to such luminaries as Steve Knightley, Phil Beer and Chris Wood, complimented by a bouzouki from Dublin maker, Joe Foley.
When not performing solo Andy finds time to play with the Mooncoin Ceilidh Band alongside longstanding musical colleagues Steve and Anne Gill and can also be found frequenting local sessions.
So what of the future? A CD of songs from the Baring-Gould collectionthat is so close to Andy's heart? - Perhaps.
The expansion of the present 6 track CD into a fuller album? Probably.
More gigs, particularly outside the South West? - Obviously.
A mouth watering prospect of collaborating with a couple of Devon's finest musicians? - Lets not get carried away with that one, it may not yet come about but watch this space!
Martyn Hillstead 2006