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Steve Gibbons (Dylan Project)
Steve Gibbons long musical career started with local Birmingham band The Dominettes in 1960. The Dominettes were later renamed The Uglys and released several singles. In 1969 Gibbons formed a short lived group called Balls. After the break up of Balls, Gibbons returned to Birmingham to join Idle Race for three months in 1971. This band rapidly evolved into the Steve Gibbons Band. His new band worked the pub and club circuits until 1975 when they were spotted by Pete Townshend of The Who and recorded an album which included the UK Top 10 hit "Tulane". In 1981 The Steve Gibbons Band became the first western rock band to tour the major cities of East Germany - the band continues to tour today. Gibbons formed the Dylan Project at the end of the 1990s to perform classic Dylan songs as well as his own material. |
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Dave Pegg (Dylan Project)
As a teenager, Dave auditioned as a lead guitarist with The Uglys but was persuaded to swap to bass guitar and has played the instrument ever since. After a spell with The Uglys, Dave joined the Ian Campbell Folk Group on double bass and met fiddle maestro Dave Swarbrick by whom he was introduced to Fairport Convention. He joined them and has been in the band ever since. In 1980, he joined Jethro Tull as bass player and spent 15 years with the band. As if playing in two bands was not enough, he set up Woodworm Records to produce and market Fairport's albums. He also recorded a solo album. Dave has also co-organised Fairport's Cropredy festival since the early 1980s. From small beginnings, it has grown into a major event that attracts 20,000 fans each August. In 1998 he joined the Dylan Project |
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PJ Wright (Dylan Project)
PJ Wright's professional career began in the 1970s backing American touring acts such as Bobby Vee, Del Shannon and the Coasters. For twenty years, in the 1980s and 90s, he recorded and toured as lead guitarist with the Steve Gibbons Band. For the last decade PJ has worked largely in the UK & US folk scene - solo, duo (sometimes with Dave Pegg) and since 1999 he has been the singer and electric guitarist with the five-piece folk-rock band, Little Johnny England. PJ plays acoustic, electric, slide and pedal steel guitars and is a founder member of The Dylan Project. |
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Phil Bond (Dylan Project)
Phil Bond is a star keyboard player. As well as playing in Steve Gibbons' various bands, he is a long-standing musical associate of Fairport Convention's violinist Ric Sanders, with experience ranging from Jazz, Blues and Soul to Eastern European folk music. As well as piano & organ, Phil plays accordion with The Dylan Project. |
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Brendan Day
Brendan joined his first band at the age of 16 and later, while at college, formed a band that played in England and Germany. After six years he joined Midlands based jazz-funk outfit Tsunami, gigging at jazz clubs and universities. In 1982 he joined Grand Alliance who toured extensively in the U.S.A. working alongside artists such as ZZ Top, Joan Jett, and INXS. He also worked on demos for Stewart Cpeland’s theme music for a George Lucas Star Wars project. In 1986 he joined the Steve Gibbons band touring throughout England, Scandinavia and Europe, and recording three albums. In 2004 he recorded with PJ Wright. In 2009 he performed with The Dylan Project which led to him playing with Fairport Convention.
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Richie Henderson (East of Memphis)
Starting out in local pubs and graduating to bigger and better things, Richie's band The Liberties became the first Scottish country band to be signed to a major record label. Having worked alongside major acts such as Lyle Lovett, k.d.Lang, Richard Thompson, John Prine, The Proclaimers and James Taylor, Richie has now branched out yet again with local Edinburgh band Bedford Falls, specialising in interpreting songs by class songwriters with an injection of his own material. Recently he has opened for acts such as Smokey Robinson, Cliff Richard and renowned guitarist Albert Lee. |
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Sheila McWhirter (East of Memphis)
Sheila has played with some of the top acoustic musicians in Scotland. Her powerful voice has featured in bands such as Burach, Avalon, Orain, and she currently plays music in her band, Laid Back Ruby, with Jenny Gardiner, former fiddler with The Poozies, Rock Salt & Nails, and Salsa Celtica. East of Memphis is a new musical collaboration between Sheila and Richie Henderson. Richie and Sheila are experienced and popular performers around Edinburgh, Scotland and Europe, having played with or supported some top musicians during their respective musical careers. From the Killers to Crowded House, Amy to Dusty, with the odd fabulous original song in between, they will sing something for everyone to love – with soulful melody, close harmony and driving acoustic rhythm. |
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The Good Old Boys
Playing at numerous locations throughout Corfu, The Good Old Boys provide a vast range of music to cover all tastes. Now comprising of just two remaining members, Frank Bloomfield and Russ Bartlett play electric, acoustic and pedal steel guitars with vocals now enhanced by harmonising equipment.Both ‘old boys’ came to Corfu some four years ago having previously followed differing, but extensive, musical careers in the U.K. where touring brought them into contact with a range of top line artists. Ultimately this life-style led them to ‘retire’ to Corfu, where they thought they would just play the occasional gig, but due to their popularity they appear to be in constant demand, so ‘retiring’ is not quite what it appeared to be! |
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Jemma Bartlett
19-year-old Jemma Bartlett made her debut at Agiotfest 09, singing alongside her father Russ, leader of the Good Old Boys. She was an instant hit with the audience, quite spellbound by the powerful voice emanating from this slim teenager. We hope for great things from her in the future. |
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Omega 5
Omega 5 was formed 5 years ago on Corfu. The band operates out of the north of the island. Lead guitarist Paul Stenton has worked with many big names including sessions at Abbey Road. Barry Packman has been playing since the early 1970s and has worked with Fairport Convention, 10cc, War and Big Jim Sullivan. Steve Dell is the ex-singer with 1980s rock band Tiger Tail. On drums Nige Howard-Smith (ex-Changing Faces Band) worked for years in bands around Sussex, while on bass, Steve Henshaw from north-east England has been playing since the 1970s with bands all over the UK.
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Lionel Mann (Classical Evening)
A church chorister, playing the pianoforte from the age of six and later the viola and oboe, Lionel envisaged becoming a concert artist until he was pitched at the tender age of twelve and at three hours’ notice into becoming organist and choirmaster of a church choir of twenty-four boys. He studied at the Royal College of Music and after holding church and cathedral appointments, Lionel became a concert organist with NZBC and the NZSO. He has performed for radio and television with orchestras and choral societies in Britain and New Zealand. |
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Ria Georgiades (Classical Evening)
Ria graduated from the New Conservatory of Thessaloniki, obtaining the Diploma for Flute with a first class degree and Distinction at the age of 18. She continued her studies in Austria and Germany, and also studied with Karlheinz Stockhausen, Kathinka Pasveer and Jαnos Bαlint. She has received several scholarships and has won prizes in international competitions. As a soloist she has performed with several orchestras in Greece and abroad and has played at international festivals as well as recording for Austrian and Greek Radio. Since 2005 she has been teaching flute at the Department of Music Studies of the Ionian University in Corfu.
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