My Story
Living close to water has always given me a strong sense of connection, to nature and to place, and it is often the inspiration for the music I make. From the changing of the seasons to the light on the water, the wildlife I encounter in unlikely places; like helping to rescue a deer that had fallen in, and a racing pigeon that had gone astray. Wherever I move my boat I find a sense of beauty even in the most industrial landscapes. Canal time is slow, and it makes you more aware of the natural world around you, a different rhythm of life, informed by the wind, the weather and the water.
In my twenties I worked as a community artist running workshops with many different people of all ages and abilities, and throughout my life the sense of community has been important to me. For 20 years I travelled as part of duo howdenjones, promoting and performing our original songs in village halls and community venues.
Visiting these places, playing for and meeting people, sharing stories and experiences, has given me the inspiration to create my music.
Having just completed 4 years of study at Leeds Conservatoire, I have explored songs from Folk and Contemporary traditions. My main interest is the in ‘oral tradition’ in Folk Music, the practice of telling tales in music and song. Some of these songs are new and some have been passed from generation to generation. I feel it is my role as a musician, to tell the stories of the people now, their joys and their struggles.
Having been described as a ‘musical magpie’ I combine my own style with folk, blues world and music, using rhythm, fingerstyle guitar picking, spoken word and unaccompanied voice. I have recently discovered a new instrument, the ‘handpan’ an instrument that shows its versatility both solo and with other musicians and my challenge was to combine it with my voice. It has been a wonderful instrument to learn.
Narrowboat Avril turned 40 in 2022, and I have lived on her for 18 years. She is a 57’ foot ‘Springer’ originally bought and fitted out by Parkhouse School in Tinsley, Yorkshire. She was a ‘trip boat’ and took the children on field trips on the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal and the River Don. She was named after a former teacher, Avril Cox, who organised trips and barbecues for the school.