| Barb Biography Page 2 |
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It was not until 1985 and
3 children later, that Barb discovered the true role of fiddle in
traditional music through the lively barn dance scene in Christchurch.
This family year living on campus at Lincoln University was special:
playing for the local Tussock Jumpers Morris side, helping start a new
women's Morris side, joining in regular Barn Dances, Folk Clubs and
attending the inspiring Whare Flat Festival. She was hooked on this
"new" traditional Celtic music. Returning to Auckland it was all go with Irish and later Scottish music. About this time she discovered that her Grandmother's family came from Sligo and her Granduncles were accomplished fiddlers. In many ways it felt like coming home. The music created a new interest in her Celtic roots with her father's Scottish and her mother's Irish background. Barb joined the Bunker Band that was a changeable feast of musicians, organized by Marty Blackman through the Devonport Folk Club, to learn tune sets and play for local ceilidhs. Barb also joined Finn McCool band which had a regular gig at the Masonic Hotel, Devonport. This gave her a taste of playing in a band, learning tunes quickly by ear and backing for songs. |
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Twisty Willow was formed not long after. 20 years and more than 1800
gigs later, TW is still going strong. After being prominent in the
heyday of the Auckland Irish Pub scene, TW now specializes in playing
for parties, weddings and ceilidhs. There have been 9 albums with the
later emphasis being on original songs. In 2004 Barb and Wes spent extended time in Ireland and Scotland travelling and following up family connections as well as hunting out music. Highlights were the South Sligo Summer School in Tubbercurry and the Common Ground Summer School in Ayrshire. These are each week-long intensive teaching schools where Barb was able to absorb and consolidate the music with some of the best fiddlers in Ireland and Scotland. Barb also experienced the craic of the small village traditional sessions in both countries. Since retiring from school teaching, Barb currently enjoys learning and playing new tunes, teaching Celtic fiddle to adults, growing native ferns commercially, playing with Twisty Willow and spending as much time as possible with her first grandchild, Jozef. |
 
Session at
Anchorage pub Ayr
Session at
Murphy's Pub Tubbercurry
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