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

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

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