Although having known each other for many years, Peadar Long and Daz Jones had never played together until last summer when they coincidently happened to be staying at Whitby during the Folk Festival. The pair busked a few tunes together, having a laugh and generally creating a bit of a spectacle. It was from this happy accident that Red Hippo was born.
Aware that the novelty of the whistle and tuba combo may be limited, they were soon joined by Simon Chantler on fiddle, guitar and mandolin. A year on and Red Hippo now perform using a stunning mix of sousaphone, Irish whistles, saxophones and strings. Individually, band members have paid their dues in the worlds of jazz, folk, world music and ska; together they explore a musical world influenced by traditional English, Irish and Scandinavian folk melodies and original tunes often underpinned with “posh jazz chords”.
Peadar Long (saxophones, whistles, bagpipes and bass clarinet) has a distinguished career, with the award winning Kitsyke Will and with his own compositional work. Peadar can also tell a great story, but forgets the punchlines of jokes. Artsreach audiences may remember Peadar from a brilliant performance of musical cabaret in Loon and Theatre Mimi’s tour of ‘Phileas B. Souper’ in 2010. Daz Jones (sousaphone, stompbox, bass) has played with World Beat combo The Real Macaws, with the UK’s only Acoustic Ska Band Skavolution and barn dance band The Last Chance Saloon Band. Simon Chantler (violin, mandolin) has played with legendary folk-punks The Whisky Priests and now plays in Calderdale supergroup A Rookery, with ceilidh band Shinjig and Irish band Kelly’s Heroes. Simon plays violin and mandolin, but is a closet guitar god and a frustrated drummer.
Expect the unexpected as Red Hippo arrive in the County for one special Artsreach performance this summer:
Friday 20 June, 7:30pm. Burton Bradstock Village Hall. 01308 897214
“An entirely unique sound. O’Carolan will be swaying in his grave to the sounds of his tunes played on sousaphone!” Martin Green, LAU
