Tag: performance

Since I moved from London in 2018, I have been really keen to find some players of uilleann pipes in Bristol to play tunes with. But good pipers are really rare!

I have always loved the sound of uilleann pipes (traditional Irish bagpipes); and the combination of uilleann pipes and fiddle is one of my favourites in traditional Irish music.

When I was in London I had the pleasure of playing regularly in sessions with Dominic Henderson; so I was delighted in 2021 to learn that Dominic, one of my favourite players of uilleann pipes, was now in Bristol.

After leading some sessions together at The Star and the Shakespeare, we established a new session at The Red Monkey in Redland in Bristol, playing fiddle and uilleann pipes alongside Marick Baxter on flute and other special guests. A lively session, the tunes at The Red Monkey fairly flew along, often driven by Dom’s skillful pipe playing and booming laugh!

Rediscovering in this session our common love of lively but authentic traditional music played with lift and drive, we started rehearsing together when we could, and our duo Straight from the Jug was the result. We found our sound in a style of playing that is thoroughly rooted in the tradition, respectful of the tunes, with just a subtle injection of personality in the arrangements. Our repertoire includes up-tempo jigs, reels and polkas, but also waltzes, slow airs and traditional songs for two voices. You can see some videos of us playing together here and on my youtube page.

We are available for bookings, for any event where you want the authentic sound of Irish music on fiddle and uilleann pipes; in Bristol, the South West and beyond!

And if you are looking to book a solo uilleann piper for your event, I can’t recommend Dom highly enough – a skilled and sensitive piper and thoroughly nice chap to boot. You can get in touch with him directly here.

Straight from the Jug – proper traditional Irish music and song on uilleann pipes, fiddle, and voices. Music with energy and drive!

We are available for bookings, for weddings, birthdays parties, garden parties — anywhere you want the sound of true traditional Irish music!

Straight from the Jug

Straight from the Jug are…

Uillean piper, Dominic Henderson

Dominic Henderson is a renowned uilleann piper and whistle player from North London who earned his stripes as a teenager playing at sessions, before taking his talents further afield, qualifying for the All-Ireland uilleann pipe final in 2007. He subsequently co-founded TEYR, releasing two studio albums.

Dominic has a keen interest in traditional piping, but his strength lies in a unique modern uilleann piping style which blends respect for the tradition with his own musical experimentation.

Fiddler, Bradon Smith

Bradon Smith is a respected fiddler player and fiddle teacher based in Bristol, UK. Classically trained but growing up in a folk family, Bradon has played folk fiddle since the age of 5. He is a well-known fiddle player on the Bristol, Bath, and London session scene.

Bradon also plays fiddle with The Sunny Banks, a four piece band playing pure-drop Irish folk music.

He plays regularly for ceilidhs with The Sunny Banks, as well as being a sought after fiddle player for other ceilidh bands in the South of England and beyond.

Forged in London, formed in Bristol

Fiddle and uilleann pipes has for a long time been one of my favourite duo combinations in Irish traditional music. They just seem to complement each other so well, blending together but also filling in the gaps left by the other instrument. I love playing with good uilleann pipe players. They also both provide a lovely drone backdrop for songs.

Years ago, Dominic Henderson and I used to play together regularly in South London, often to be found in the front window of the grand old pub The Antelope in Tooting on a Sunday afternoon (and then, quite likely, off to sessions at the Howl at the Moon in Hoxton, and then on to The Lamb in Camden!).

I moved away from London and we had fewer chances to play together. But when Dom moved over to the South West we began playing together again — re-finding our love of driving rhythmic tunes, as well as the opportunities of playing some slower reels and airs together. We added songs for two voices to our repertoire, and Straight from the Jug was born.