Garry Blakeley
Fiddle
Forthcoming Events (1)
Saturday 9th May 2026, 8:00 pm: Feast of Fiddles
Biography
I’m based in Hastings, Sussex, England and I make my living from playing fiddle. I work with a duo “Band of Two” and with Shep Woolley as “The Andsome Cabin Bouys”. For many years I performed in the Folk Rock line-up “The Tabs” and worked with the legend Dave Swarbrick – “Swarb”.
I also teach fiddle, mainly traditional styles but also classical. I am particuarly interested in the use of fiddle in a Rock/Funk situation, views on improvisation and I am about to investigate some Jazz.
Over the years, I have made many recordings and for anyone who is interested, I will be posting detailed information of tracks and albums that are available along with some demo mp3’s. You’ll find these and more at www.garryblakeley.co.uk .
Having done sterling service over the years as the band’s number one dep, Garry is now a full member of Feast of Fiddles.
Quotes
SIMON NICOL (Fairport Convention) ” Garry’s work shows a happy meld of youthful bounce and spirit with a mature sense of the inner value of the driving melodies seemingly tossed off without apparent effort.: at the same time this man is no mean tunesmith and he can make his fiddle sing with real depths of emotion ”
BARRY DRANSFIELD ” Listening to Garry Blakeley for the first time was for me one of those rare happenings where the reality far exceeded the well deserved rumours which inevitably grow around a fine player. Whilst his elegant playing of English music reflects “laid back” Sussex perfectly, his grip of Irish music is something very special which surely comes from the echoes of his Irish and Gypsy roots now further exposed in his song writing. Self-effacing and honest in his approach, Garry is a pleasure to listen to. Sit back and enjoy – I know I will ”
PETER KNIGHT (Steeleye Span) ” Garry is a good friend, a wonderful fiddle player and a lovely singer – he has always been recognised and admired as one of the few English fiddlers who has captured the lilt and spirit of traditional Irish dance music ”
BRIAN McNEILL (Feast of Fiddles) ” One of the best fiddlers and fiddle composers in the country ”
Paul Johnson (folking.com) interviews GARRY BLAKELEY & JANE DOWNES during THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR tour
LIVE SHOW DELIGHTS ON ONE WET AND WINDY NIGHT IN RYE IN SUSSEX!
If Garry Blakeley ever had to bullet point and compile a CV it would probably read something like this:
Garry Blakeley – Amazingly brilliant fiddle player, Marketing Director, PR Manager, Record Producer, Recording Studio Manager, Singer song writer, Tour Manager, Web Site Designer, long standing associate member of ‘Feast of Fiddles’, and Band of Two.
Links
Website: http://www.garryblakeley.co.uk