The Hosepipe Band Profile

The band line-up from left to right:

• Simon Haines - melodeons, hurdy-gurdy
• Val Woollard - recorders, flute, saxophone, bagpipes, bombarde, hammered dulcimer, wind-controller
• Geoff Coombs - mandolin, mandola
• Nick Sadler - bass guitar
• Barney Monger - drums, percussion (not in photo)

Val and Simon have played together in dance bands for over 20 years - notably in Bass Instincts and Harkelees. Geoff has played in many bands including The Churchfitters and Vivando, and with Nick in The Schmucks. Barney, our occasional percussionist plays in the Suffolk heavy metal band Dead Lane Cross and with Geoff in Kip Keino.

The band plays with a number of experienced local and nationally-known callers, including Mary Panton, Fee Lock, Elaine Barker, George Monger, Phil Smith, Andrew Swaine, Jonathan Seath and Sibby.

The band has made five CDs, most recently Kettleburgh Fete. The twelve tracks combine traditional and newly-composed dance tunes. The booklet accompanying the CD contains instructions for twelve dances that go with the 12 tracks of music.

There are four other CD recordings.

• Hell's Bells. Ten of the 11 tracks on this 52-minute CD were composed by members of the band. This is more of a listening to recording than a dance CD.
• Polstead Meadow. This consists of music composed to accompany a series of etchings depicting Suffolk scenes by East Anglian artist Glynn Thomas .

• Landslide. This comprises 13 tracks representative of the traditional and original dance tunes and other instrumentals played by the band.

• Waltzing for Pleasure and Profit The band's first recording originally available only on cassette, but now on CD with the addition of new tracks.

The Hosepipe Band is available for concerts and festivals as well as dances. For further information about the band or the recordings, contact Simon Haines or Val Woollard on 01206 547830

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