The Burdock Band is an extended family of musicians who have played together for many years in bands and sessions and this band was formed both out of friendship and a love for the music we play.  We enjoy playing for dances and ceilidhs and believe it is a great way to celebrate a special occasion.

Belinda Hutchings (flute and whistle) is a keen session player and has played flute and whistle with the Irish tradition in Birmingham for a long time. In recent years she has been playing with Cuckoos Nest Ceilidh band, Last Orders, Celtic Keys (Canadian dance) and mediaeval music with Tekaro.

Gerry Smith (accordion) has performed with numerous bands since the 80’s including World Service, The Nighthawks, Mack and the Boys, and Last Orders.  He was with the highly successful folk rock band The Bushbury’s for ten years producing many critically acclaimed albums and touring over 500 festivals and venues in the UK and Europe.  His compositions have been performed many times for radio and theatre.

Mick Howson (guitar, hurdy gurdy, mandolin and banjo) has been playing professionally since the 60’s and has supported many famous acts including Thin Lizzy, The Kinks, Dire Straits and the Pogues.  With the indie-folk band Terry and Gerry, he toured throughout the UK and Europe achieving chart success.  More recently he has played in the Kitchen Girls, Last Orders and the gypsy-klezma band, The Destroyers.

Vicki Ayers (bodhran, percussion and recorder) was actually conceived at a folk festival and was raised on scrumpy and pounding Irish rhythms!  She has played the bodhran since childhood and has performed and recorded with many bands including Common Ground, Wet ya Whistle and Last Orders.  A keen dancer herself, her funky rhythms will get your feet moving.

Leighton Hargreaves (fiddle, banjo) has played with various groups and individuals such as The Toques, Mooncoin, Fola, Munchbreak, Jim Summerfield, Jo Hamilton, and of course the legendary Destroyers. His Klezmer influences and improvised virtuosity brings energy and rhythm to the dances.

Guest players

Charlie Hutchings is a talented young singer songwriter who joins the band for those ocassions when songs are essential to your event. His popular (Irish) trad folk singing style goes down well. You can listen to him singing Tell My Ma or visit his website and listen to his album The Magic Pumpkin.

Emma Louis (fiddle) has been playing in folk and ceilidh bands for many years including Common Ground and the Village Wakes, as well as world music group Kopanang. She is a keen session player, having developed her knowledge of Irish fiddle music with Birmingham based Galway fiddler Pat Molloy. A founder of the band, Emma is currently taking time out to spend with her young daughter.

Laura Mattison (fiddle) makes up one quarter of Little Sister. Her confident raw bluegrass style will bring to life your Barn Dance.

Junghee Keum (fiddle) plays violin and viola in a variety of styles. This year she has toured nationally with Chris de Burg  and played at the Royal Albert Hall with  jazz guitarist George Benson.

Pete Churchill (accordian, guitar) is a classically trained Birmingham based Community Musician (Pete's website) . He currently plays in folk rock band Elfynn and acoustic duo Ferris.