Drowsy Maggie
In 1972 there was the all-Ireland Ballad Singing
Champion, Mick Hipkiss, running his Skillet Pot Folk Club in the upstairs room of the
long gone Old Contemptibles pub in Birmingham's Livery Street. nothing
serious in those days, just a guitar, fiddle, bass, the occasional tin whistle
and the boys singing away at the old traditional songs. Some observers might well
have described it as "Do-It-Yourself" music.
From this gathering in a city centre pub more than 25 years ago Drowsy Maggie
was born. During these 25 years Drowsy Maggie
have appeared at festivals, clubs, theatres, and town halls throughout Britain, Ireland & mainland Europe.
Appearances have ranged from Birmingham Town Hall, Bellgrade Theatre,
Coventry, Malvern Festival Theatre, Kenneth More Theatre, Rose of Tralee Festival through to major
cabaret clubs such as Caesar's Palace and Blazers Club in windsor. As
well as appearances on German television, they have also featured on countless
radio and television both here in the U.K. and Ireland.
They have appeared as "special guests" to such luminaries as The Dubliners,
Foster & Allen and Tommy Makem- Winning on each occasion legions of
new converts and fans to their own distinctive style and sound.
Over the years the line up has changed on a number of occasions - aside hat is, from the three founder
members Mick Hipkiss, vocaks & bodhran, Clive Powers on
double bass and Pete Bispham on lead guitar and whistle.
Added to the three origional members are Aiden forde on vocals, fiddle,
guitar and mandola an Andy Jones on fiddle mandolin and Uileann pipes.
It has to be said that there are relativley few Irish
bands playing the curcuits today, who can kick that extra little excitement
into the performance of a tune, in the way that Drowsy Maggie
can. As musicians they filled our youth with songs of love, life, Ireland, drink
and the tales of emigrant. They started good, they've remaind good, and they will
will go on being good forever!!
This page is under going severe construction but will be up and running properly in the near future
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