Houghton Weavers

The Houghton Weavers are an English folk music band formed in 1975 in Westhoughton, Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. The current band members are David Littler (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, banjo-ukulele, bouzouki, piano accordion and vocals), Steve Millington (bass guitar, keyboards, acoustic guitar, piano accordion and vocals) and Tony Berry (lead vocalist).

David Littler and Tony Berry are both founder members of the band, whilst Steve Millington joined in 1996.

Previous members were Norman Prince (1975 to 1999, acoustic guitar, banjo, 12 string guitar, bass guitar and vocals), John Oliver (1975 to 1976 vocals), Denis Littler (1976 to 1984 bass guitar and vocals) and Jeff Hill (1984 to 1996 and 1999 to 2007 bass Guitar, acoustic guitar, 12 string guitar, electric guitar and vocals) Whilst never officially a member of the band, Alan Fawkes was a frequent guest--"he couldn't stand the drop in pay" (dates unknown: woodwind instruments)

They sing mainly English folk music, much of it in Lancashire dialect, and demonstrate an eclectic range of song subjects including "The Blackpool Belle", "Uncle Joe’s Mintballs" and "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" (a biographical song about the painter L. S. Lowry).

They are best known for their BBC TV show Sit Thi Deawn (Lancashire dialect for "have a seat", referring to the hospitality of Lancashire people). The programme ran for six series or seven years and was a mixture of easy listening music and comedy for a local audience.^[1] The group also starred in six of their own series for BBC Radio 2.

Quotations

• “Bolton’s culture brings together these world wide diversities into a microcosm. The aim of the Town should be to bring these various differences together to promote understanding and harmony which will in turn give the future town its own unique culture! The Houghton Weavers will continue to promote the musical culture of this area world wide.” – The Houghton Weavers
• "With 'folk' you either think of something like the Houghton Weavers, or proper folk." – Andy Kershaw^[2]

Selected discography

Howfen Wakes, 1976 Gone are the Days, 1977 Sit Thi Deawn, 1978 Clatter O' Clogs', 1979 In Concert, 1979 Up Your Way, 1980 Alive and Kicking, 1981 In the Rare Ould Times, 1983 Keep Folk Smiling, 1985 It’s Good to See You, 1986

Lancashire Lads, 1988 When Granny Sang Me Songs, 1990 Christmas Collection, 1991 The Keeper, 1992 Work of the Weavers, 1993 Live at the City Varieties, Leeds, 1995 The Best of Houghton Weavers, 1995 What a Wonderful World, 1996

Lancashire Folk, 1997 Glory of Love, 1998 On The Road, 1999 Houghton Weavers - Collection Vol. 1, 2000 Blackpool Belle - Collection Vol. 2, 2000 Come Landlord - Collection Vol. 3, 2001 We Wish You A Merry Christmas, 2002 30th Anniversary Collection, 2004 Howfen Wakes (Remastered), 2005 Gone are the Days (Remastered), 2005

Sit Thi Deawn (Remastered), 2005 Made in Howfen (DVD), 2005 20 Folk Classics, 2007 Ae Fond Kiss, 2009 At Home With The Weavers (DVD), 2010 Lancashire Leads The Way, 2010 Songs of Conflict, 2012 In Session At The Carnegie Hall (DVD), 2012 By Request, 2014

References

1. "SIT THI DEAWN (1979)". BFI Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Retrieved 6 March 2007.
2. "HMHB News Archive July – December 2002". 30 September 2002. Retrieved 6 March 2007.

External links

• Official Website
• Official Twitter Account