Knight and Spiers - Concert

“A beautiful snapshot of two musicians at the pinnacle of their craft. Listeners will find themselves lost in something magical; anyone will struggle to find something as masterful as this for a long, long time.” Bright Young Folk

How Peter Knight and John Spiers came to perform as a duo is a wonderful story. It started as a “one-off” concert, an inspired suggestion from the organiser of FolkEast in 2016. This concert has become the stuff of legends, an occasion where people would say “I was there!”

The idea of a concert with these two extraordinary musicians in the beautiful setting of Guildford’s oldest church sent our imaginations soaring! Could there be another “I was there” moment for our audiences? We certainly think so.

We’re also offering musicians the opportunity to spend an illuminating few hours with Peter and Squeezy John to learn about the art and craft of improvisation in an afternoon workshop.

Whether you come to listen or to learn, this will be a very special event!

“Peter Knight can spin the world on his bow.” Sir Terry Pratchett

John Spiers - “A blend of elegant, rhythmic and virtuoso playing and easygoing folk club banter. A quiet triumph”  The Guardian

For our Concert + Workshop discount, please go to Improvisation Workshop with Peter Knight and John Spiers page

Concert: Knight and Spiers - 7:30 pm

The exquisite explorations of the liminal space that exists between traditional and classical music is what makes the music of Peter Knight and John Spiers so compelling and beguiling, ultimately rendering genres irrelevant. The duo has developed into one of the most thrilling exponents of traditional tunes and songs, repurposing the material as jumping-off points into the most enchanting exploration.

Improvisation workshop with Peter Knight and John Spiers - 2:00 - 4:30 pm

As a duo, Knight and Spier’s performances sparkle with spontaneity and invention. This two and a half hour workshop will give musicians an insight into their approach to musical improvisation and to experience the magic that can flow when you are given the freedom to explore and experiment. Open to all ages, all instruments and all levels of ability.

“Peter is on a mission to help each of us, from beginners to advanced players, to explore and build our own musical vocabularies and put a bit of ourselves into every note we play.” Peter Knight Masterclass participant.

KNIGHT AND SPIERS

While Peter Knight, as part of Steeleye Span’s classic 1970s line-up, helped invent a brand of folk rock that is still influential today, John Spiers as co-founder of the almighty Bellowhead has had an equally profound impact on the landscape of traditional music over the last two decades.

The pairing of violin and melodeon is not a new one, but in the hands of Knight and Spiers, improvisation and invention meet the listener at every turn. Together they have created a musical document that resonates with history, but also something that should inspire future generations of musicians to engage with Britain’s folk dancing heritage, and the beautiful, mysterious tunes that can be found within that heritage.

These uniquely gifted musicians make a sublime pairing, and create a live performance to be remembered for a long time.