About Me

Something about me and the bands I've played with

Howard Jones

I'm a singer and multi-instrumentalist who performs folk music, mainly traditional material from the British Isles. I play guitar, recorder, melodeon, anglo concertina and hammered dulcimer.

I started out as a singer in folk clubs around my native Essex, and was a morris dancer and occasional musician with Blackmore Morris. After I moved to the North West in 1980 I became a resident at several folk clubs around Cheshire and Manchester, and began to branch out into playing for ceilidhs.

I particularly enjoy playing English dance music. I was formerly a member of the Electropathics, who were to become one of the most popular and innovative ceilidh bands of the 1980s and 90s. I now play in the ceilidh band Albireo, as well as performing solo and playing in sessions.

With these bands, and also as a solo performer, I have performed at festivals, ceilidhs and folk clubs all around the country, and I've appeared on both local and national radio.

Albireo

www.albireo.co.uk

Over what is now getting on for 20 years Albireo has become established as one of the leading ceilidh bands in the North West and now performs throughout the country. The band has appeared at Poynton , Phoenix , Ryburn 3 Step, Unicorn and Oxfolk ceilidh clubs, as well as Sidmouth, Whitby, Broadstairs and Chester Folk Festivals and Eastbourne International Dance Festival. In addition, the band is in regular demand for private functions.

With the band I play melodeon, concertina, dulcimer and recorder, with occasional vocals.

"This is one consummately professional ceilidh band. They understand what a ceilidh crowd respond to and deliver it in buckets. Their tunes are played with gusto and whether they are fiddle driven foot stompers or concertina self penned subtle waltzes they deliver extremely danceable music all night. Great sound, a joyful stage presence and a bunch of really nice guys. What’s not to like?"

Martyn Harvey, Dance Caller

Albireo's debut CD, Northern Cross, has received enthusiastic reviews. Our second double CD Binary was released in 2017. You can listen to and purchase these from our Bandcamp site https://albireo.bandcamp.com/

The Electropathics

Originally the Electropathic Battery Band, the Electropathics became known as one of the leading ceilidh bands of the 1980s. As well as playing for dances the band also performed songs, and was in wide demand for festivals, ceilidhs, concerts and private events throughout the country before finally packing up in 1994.

"With the Electropathics you have, in a sense, heard it all before, but never all in one place: dance sets with brass band/trad jazz influences, Sacred Harp, songs from the Golden Age of Variety, danceable vignettes of a country becoming even cheaper and nastier, all of it deftly arranged to suit the required mood… An excellent, versatile band." Folk Roots

In 1987 the Electropathics recorded their only LP, (batteries not included) and also contributed to a folk album released on cassette by BBC Radio Manchester for the Children in Need Appeal.