9th December 2011 at King and Queen, London W1
Musical Traditions Folk Club,
www.englishfolkinfo.org.uk/mustrad/mtc.html.
Country: Britain. Style: English Country Dance.
Lineup: Katie Howson (melodeon), John Howson (tenor banjo), Simon Ritchie (melodeon/mouth organ/v/dancer), Rob Neal (cello/v) and guests: Alvar Smith (v), Peta Webb (v), Percy Ward (dancer), Doreen O'Connor (dancer).
John and Katie Howson moved to Suffolk in the mid 1970s. By the early 1980s they had formed the Old Hat Concert Party with a rotating cast of Traditional musicians, including Reg Reader a Hammered Dulcimer player. Katie’s Quartet continues to play the Country Dance music of Suffolk with a smaller lineup. Their album released in 1996 featured the Howsons, Reader and Rob Neal. At this gig Simon Ritchie (who has also played with Old Hat) was with the band rather than Reader. They brought along with them a couple of Step Dancers and a singer.
In this photo: This was the Club’s Christmas Party. Therefore the band’s instruments were adorned with decorations and hats donned towards the end of their set.
