Hens March/Four Poster Bed by Dave Swarbrick and Simon Nicol

[comenterofcomenters]

1:50 - 2:41

I just shat my pants

[gcdev]

I don't believe Simon Nicol was ever this young. Nice fiddle Swarb, love the hen sound effects

[pipa123100]

quality tune!

[scrimshank1]

Swarb's the best. Been following his music for decades...from Canada.

[midmodgal]

Is this around the same time that put out an album, just the 2 of them. It had a stunning version of 'Si bheag si mhor' I have it somewhere, I think. Do you have it? Could you post it? It is simply breathtaking.

[Blacksquareable]

And to think this complete genius only ended up playing fiddle by accident!

[niallmac44]

I'll never forget getting Dave's first solo album "Rags, Reels and Airs in 1968. I wore it out and had to get another copy. Later that year I was doing a folk programme on Radio Eireann and Hen's March to the Middens was my intro.

[propaganda68]

I produced bot the clips from pebble Mill@1 and Simon was much envied for his charity-shop couture lol!

[ginaonthebass]

oh this is just soooo good:):):):)

[crc778Hypnodoc]

Yes it is indeed the old Peble Mil at One show from Birmingham's Pebble Mill studios. Swarbrick is a true musical genius and he's still gigging, I'll be seeing him at The Omma N'Chain club in the Black Country in Nov

[fiddlerius]

masterpice, crazy fiddling and guitar picking, real music from heart and soul

[filidust]

amazing!

[hclee]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for posting this clip... The legendary Dave Swarbrick.

[NeilThompson30]

Love Fairports but why's Simon all suited and booted!!?

[iipict]

Remember seeing Swarb on Scottish Tele in the 50's...

The man is Majick Fiddler..

G

[jmharrison51]

Love Swarb. I used to have the "White Bear" album, vinyl, on semi-permanent loan but eventually had to give it back. Would give a lot to have it again; most of it is on the "Close to the White Bear" CD, but sadly it misses out Swarb's between song banter, most of which seems to be about getting free drinks. Someone says somewhere else in this thread that their wife thinks Swarb sold his soul to the devil. I know what she means - theirs something impish about Swarb that's peculiar to fiddlers.

[Gooseberry51]

Love Swarb.. always such a pleasute to hear him play & sing...

[FairportMatty]

i listen to this daily now, lightens up the mood :-)

[LaMax61auc]

It is not so easy to liesten to music like this every day.

they are (were) great.s.s.s.s.

LAMAX61°

[hellpmaboab]

Never got the point of the quickfire intro by Simon Nicol. His key is way off the first song, and unfortunately, he employs that yokel-nasal affectation that blights so much English folk.

More Swarbrick, please.

[ramron333]

see what you meen bad hair day but not bad fiddle day did you know he was in far from the madding crowd

[hellpmaboab]

Just tell us who cut Dave's hair and we'll GET him !!

[xraycortina]

@hellpmaboab Can only blame himself for THAT moustache though eh

[fonzleclay]

Simon Nicol looks like Father Christmas now XD

[kings900]

haha

[corticalmass]

Wonderful playing as always from these guys. I wonder if the tunes' tie in with Joyce's "Finnegans Wake" is intentional? We know these guys are musical geniuses, but literary wits...?

[OBEJOYFUL2007]

Swarb is his usual magnificent self, but Simon produces absolutely storming accompaniment, chugging rhythm, elegant twiddles, blue notes and all. Two of the great acoustic talents. (my missis reckons Swarb has sold his soul to the Devil. Or is the devil).

[transliminal]

@OBEJOYFUL2007 Old Nick is said to be a class one fiddle player.

[caley956]

Swarb's always held the bow like that, self taught you see.

I treasure the memory of his shameless touting for free drinks ("Mine's a MALT whisky!" when he and Simon did a club gig near Leicester around 1981. They were both pretty refreshed by the end but still absolutely on the money.

[darthmagnum]

He is not self taught, though he is an absolute bloody genius. A totally unique style that you will find absolutely no where else. Good to see his health is getting better too.

[Lukasmunke]

WOW what a fiddle. Wierd way to hold the bow, maybe it is just because of the chicken sounds. But great!

[davelieb]

when are where was this filmed?  was it broadcast on television?

[ukfolkrocker]

Yes it was broadcast live on a lunchtime TV show called "Pebble Mill at One" from BBC Birmingham's old TV studios in 1981, I'm afraid I don't have the date. See also "Time to Ring Some Changes" the song that closed the same show, and "Three Drunken Maidens" from the show a couple of years later.

Bryan

[minwav]

Wow - love the Swarb/Nicol combo!! I wasn't aware that this ever happened.

[wbs1953]

whats a midden

[surreal12]

A midden is an old word for a rubbish (shite) heap (in farming terms)...

[soliloquise]

Phenominal Swarb !! Love Simon's voice too :)

[marbleriver]

I've watched this video about 100 times, and it gets better every with viewing. Thanks for posting (no pun intended)!

[Fibbing01]

I entirely agree, marbleriver!

[HenfieldWill]

Saw Swarb and Simon Nicol at the old "Springfield" in Brighton around 1981 - not quite as showboaty as this clip - but we must be grateful to Ukfolkrocker for posting it. Thanks! :-) Will

[sirpatrickspens]

Sensational!

[xxecilaxx]

Hens march to the midden :D Brings back some old memories!

[johnnysaint]

Pebble Mill...luverly!! Thanks for sharing, great video!!

[thirdfloorit]

Thanks for this its great to see more of this stuff going up! Only 12months or so ago there was nothing to speak of. :0)

[Killie03]

Great musicians, both have given me much pleasure over the years. Oh and suit you sir!

[evilibby]

Blimey. If I did double stopping like that, I'd break my bow! Jeez.

[Tedwardow]

Good God how young are they?