Ian 'Walter' Fairbairn
Encyclopedia
Ian 'Walter' Fairbairn (born 28 August 1953) is an English
folk music
ian, who was raised in the North East
of England
. He developed his musical talent whilst still at school, inspired by his contemporaries Dave Richardson (The Boys of the Lough
) and the concertina
player Alistair Anderson. Fairbairn was soon singing and playing in local groups such as Trimrigg, before joining Hedgehog Pie
, and then the Lindisfarne
spin-off band Jack the Lad
.
He has toured extensively in the UK
and Europe, playing with a wide variety of bands
and musician
s. His musical career has included performances at Cambridge, Edinburgh and Reading Festivals
, as well as appearances on the Old Grey Whistle Test
, BBC Radio 1
In Concert and Folk on Two.
Fairbairn joined Aiken's Drum in the late 1980s as a stand-in, and has been the longest-serving member. He continues to play with other bands and has appeared on many recordings
, mainly in the folk arena. Fairbairn has been a long term provider of fiddle
parts for various Guy Manning
album
s, and has also appeared as part of the latter's live line-up.
by utilising his brother's instrument
. At Wallsend Grammar School, he joined the school's Folk Song Society, which included Dave Richardson (later of The Boys of the Lough
) and Alistair Anderson. Fairbairn's first public performance was playing a 5 string banjo
alongside Dave Richardson's younger brother, Tich, at a church fete in Howdon-on-Tyne.
With fellow schoolfriend Stu Luckley they formed a duo
called Trimrigg, and played folk music
around Tynemouth
, Cullercoats
and Whitley Bay
. In time the line-up expanded to include Luckley's girlfriend Margi. In 1971, Hedgehog Pie
decided to replace the departing mandolin
player, Andy Seagrove, by absorbing Trimrigg into their ranks. Fairbairn remained with Hedgehog Pie for two years, performing on BBC Radio
(Folk on 2), at the Edinburgh Festival
with Silly Wizard
, and his first appearance at the Cambridge Folk Festival. Hedgehog Pie were the result of the flourishing folk revival in northern England and the attempts to extend the electric folk
movement in the region. They failed to achieve mainstream recognition, but retain a local and cult following in the context of northern folk music.
By 1973 Fairbairn, along with Phil Murray joined Jack the Lad
, who recorded three albums and toured extensively before Lindisfarne reformed. The last Jack the Lad concert took place in Redcar
in July 1977, although several reunions culminated in an appearance at the Skagen festival in Denmark in 1993. In 1978 Fairbairn joined the award winning country
band, Midnight Flyer, and has played with them on and off over the years.
Fairbairn played with various other bands before being recruited by Aiken's Drum. Since the 1980s Fairbairn has performed alongside or with Paul Buckley, Chris Newman, Nick Strutt
, Roger Knowles, Michael Chapman, Tony Wilson
, Brian Golbey, Alistair Russell, Gordon Tyrall, Hot Pot Belly Band, Witches Bane, Four Horseman, Ray Band, Boxcar Willie
, Sons of the Freemen, Scarlet Heights and Aiken's Drum.
Fairbairn has recorded with Tony Capstick
, The Buskers, Mike Harding
, Guy Manning
, Tom Robinson
, Tony Wilson, Ewan Carruthers, Gordon Tyrall, Alan Taylor, Scarlet Heights and Aiken's Drum.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
ian, who was raised in the North East
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He developed his musical talent whilst still at school, inspired by his contemporaries Dave Richardson (The Boys of the Lough
The Boys of the Lough
-The early years:Their first album, called Boys of the Lough consisted of Aly Bain , Cathal Mc'Connell , Dick Gaughan and Robin Morton ....
) and the concertina
Concertina
A concertina is a free-reed musical instrument, like the various accordions and the harmonica. It has a bellows and buttons typically on both ends of it. When pressed, the buttons travel in the same direction as the bellows, unlike accordion buttons which travel perpendicularly to it...
player Alistair Anderson. Fairbairn was soon singing and playing in local groups such as Trimrigg, before joining Hedgehog Pie
Hedgehog Pie
Hedgehog Pie were an electric folk group from the north-east of England, formed in 1971. Despite frequent line-up changes, they build up a considerable regional and national following and produced three highly regarded albums...
, and then the Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...
spin-off band Jack the Lad
Jack The Lad
Jack the Lad was a folk rock or electric folk group from North East England formed in 1973 by three former members of the most successful band of the period from the region Lindisfarne. They moved from the progressive folk rock of Lindisfarne into much more traditional territory and were in the...
.
He has toured extensively in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Europe, playing with a wide variety of bands
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s. His musical career has included performances at Cambridge, Edinburgh and Reading Festivals
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
, as well as appearances on the Old Grey Whistle Test
Old Grey Whistle Test
The Old Grey Whistle Test was an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers...
, BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
In Concert and Folk on Two.
Fairbairn joined Aiken's Drum in the late 1980s as a stand-in, and has been the longest-serving member. He continues to play with other bands and has appeared on many recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, mainly in the folk arena. Fairbairn has been a long term provider of fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
parts for various Guy Manning
Guy Manning
Guy Manning is an English multi-instrumentalist and singer, best known for his own album work and for his membership of progressive rock bands Parallel or 90 Degrees, The Tangent and his own, Manning.-Biography:...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s, and has also appeared as part of the latter's live line-up.
Biography
Fairbairn learned to play guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
by utilising his brother's instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
. At Wallsend Grammar School, he joined the school's Folk Song Society, which included Dave Richardson (later of The Boys of the Lough
The Boys of the Lough
-The early years:Their first album, called Boys of the Lough consisted of Aly Bain , Cathal Mc'Connell , Dick Gaughan and Robin Morton ....
) and Alistair Anderson. Fairbairn's first public performance was playing a 5 string banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
alongside Dave Richardson's younger brother, Tich, at a church fete in Howdon-on-Tyne.
With fellow schoolfriend Stu Luckley they formed a duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
called Trimrigg, and played folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
around Tynemouth
Tynemouth
Tynemouth is a town and a historic borough in Tyne and Wear, England, at the mouth of the River Tyne, between North Shields and Cullercoats . It is administered as part of the borough of North Tyneside, but until 1974 was an independent county borough in its own right...
, Cullercoats
Cullercoats
Cullercoats is an urban area of north east England, with a population 9,407 in 2004. It has now been absorbed into the North Tyneside conurbation, sitting between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay. There is a semi-circular sandy beach with cliffs and caves, and the village is a popular destination for...
and Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay is a town in North Tyneside, in Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the North Sea coast and has a fine stretch of golden sandy beach forming a bay stretching from St. Mary's Island in the north to Cullercoats in the south...
. In time the line-up expanded to include Luckley's girlfriend Margi. In 1971, Hedgehog Pie
Hedgehog Pie
Hedgehog Pie were an electric folk group from the north-east of England, formed in 1971. Despite frequent line-up changes, they build up a considerable regional and national following and produced three highly regarded albums...
decided to replace the departing mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
player, Andy Seagrove, by absorbing Trimrigg into their ranks. Fairbairn remained with Hedgehog Pie for two years, performing on BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
(Folk on 2), at the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
with Silly Wizard
Silly Wizard
Silly Wizard was a Scottish folk band that began forming in Edinburgh in 1970. The founder members were two like-minded university students—Gordon Jones and Bob Thomas...
, and his first appearance at the Cambridge Folk Festival. Hedgehog Pie were the result of the flourishing folk revival in northern England and the attempts to extend the electric folk
Electric folk
Electric folk is the name given to the form of folk rock pioneered in England from the late 1960s, and most significant in the 1970s, which then was taken up and developed in the surrounding Celtic cultures of Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man, to produce Celtic rock and its...
movement in the region. They failed to achieve mainstream recognition, but retain a local and cult following in the context of northern folk music.
By 1973 Fairbairn, along with Phil Murray joined Jack the Lad
Jack The Lad
Jack the Lad was a folk rock or electric folk group from North East England formed in 1973 by three former members of the most successful band of the period from the region Lindisfarne. They moved from the progressive folk rock of Lindisfarne into much more traditional territory and were in the...
, who recorded three albums and toured extensively before Lindisfarne reformed. The last Jack the Lad concert took place in Redcar
Redcar
Redcar is a seaside resort in the north east of England, and a major town in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. It lies east-northeast of Middlesbrough by the North Sea coast...
in July 1977, although several reunions culminated in an appearance at the Skagen festival in Denmark in 1993. In 1978 Fairbairn joined the award winning country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
band, Midnight Flyer, and has played with them on and off over the years.
Fairbairn played with various other bands before being recruited by Aiken's Drum. Since the 1980s Fairbairn has performed alongside or with Paul Buckley, Chris Newman, Nick Strutt
Nick Strutt
Nicholas Charles Strutt , was a British country and folk musician. He was particularly noted for his mandolin playing, and worked and recorded with a number of well-known musicians of his time....
, Roger Knowles, Michael Chapman, Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
, Brian Golbey, Alistair Russell, Gordon Tyrall, Hot Pot Belly Band, Witches Bane, Four Horseman, Ray Band, Boxcar Willie
Boxcar Willie
Boxcar Willie, born as Lecil Travis Martin was an American country music singer, who sang in the "old-time hobo" music style, complete with dirty face, overalls, and a floppy hat...
, Sons of the Freemen, Scarlet Heights and Aiken's Drum.
Fairbairn has recorded with Tony Capstick
Tony Capstick
Joseph Anthony 'Tony' Capstick was an English comedian, actor, musician and broadcaster.-Life and career:...
, The Buskers, Mike Harding
Mike Harding
Mike Harding is an English singer, songwriter, comedian, author, poet and broadcaster. He is known as 'The Rochdale Cowboy' after one of his hit records...
, Guy Manning
Guy Manning
Guy Manning is an English multi-instrumentalist and singer, best known for his own album work and for his membership of progressive rock bands Parallel or 90 Degrees, The Tangent and his own, Manning.-Biography:...
, Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson is an English singer-songwriter, bassist and radio presenter, better known for the hits "Glad to Be Gay", "2-4-6-8 Motorway", and "Don't Take No for an Answer", with his Tom Robinson Band...
, Tony Wilson, Ewan Carruthers, Gordon Tyrall, Alan Taylor, Scarlet Heights and Aiken's Drum.