gigspanner reviews:

Gigspanner - Nettlebed Village Hall - 29th June 2009 Review by Hugh Crabtree Peter Knight is probably one of this country's best known and loved fiddle players. And I include the general public in that as even the non-folkies have heard Steeleye Span and most recall the band's charismatic bowman. During a fallow period in Steeleye's history Peter concentrated on other projects that included many solo guises sometimes with others involved. The resurgence of Steeleye Span, which celebrates it 40th anniversary this year, has not stopped Peter exploring new avenues for his music. Just one of these is Gigspanner. The concert at Nettlebed Village Hall - a venue with an enviable reputation for the quality of its acts - was part of a short tour before Peter and his Steeleye colleagues got stuck into their anniversary touring in earnest. Quite simply, this band is stunning. It provides by far and away the best platform for Peter's playing in his many professional endeavours. His cohorts are absolutely on the money with their expressive and sensitive accompaniment of Peter's soaring violin sound. The overall balance is perfectly pitched but the sound just mighty. The set included traditional as well as self-penned pieces and the whole was an entertainment of the highest order and a musical experience that anyone with even a passing interest in the violin and its music should see, hear and enjoy. Roger Flack's guitar playing is the perfect foil for Peter's lead achieving every musician's dream of making your own mark whilst providing excellence in support of the main melody line. Alongside this Vincent Salzfaas extracts such a breadth of tone from his percussion set and immaculate rhythmic accompaniment. Just a joy to listen to. I doubt this year will be out before festival organisers are queuing up to book this sensational band. You can tell I was impressed - and I take some impressing. But my advice to you is simple: go see this band as I guarantee you'll enjoy it and be impressed too, mightily!

Gigspanner - Preston Guildhall Phil Widdows: Lancashire Evening Post Blistering Pace in Flamboyant Musical World Tour Is Peter Knight the Jimi Hendrix of the fiddle world? Just like the late guitar god, Knight sports an iconic ‘tache. More importantly, he can be just as inventive and flamboyant musically – although he resisted setting his instrument on fire. Knight has been the fiddle player with folk-rock founders Steeleye Span for 40 years, but Ggigspanner seems custom built to support the more fluid side of his musical personality – one that is necessarily suppressed in his work with Steeleye or as part of the massed violin ensemble known as the Feast of Fiddles. Backing him here are talented rock guitarist Roger Flack and percussionist Vincent Salzfaas, a two-man engine room that produces the revs. And Capt Knight does like to let the music roam where it will, improvising wildly through tunes and songs drawn from a world of cultural influences. There’s Irish folk in the shape of slipjigs such as the delicate opening piece, The Butterfly. There’s French style Jazz in a Stephane Grapelli-style Hot Club number. And there’s African beats and rhythms on Walking With Shadows (actually ‘Too Late for Shadows’) which pushes Senegal trained Salzfaas to the fore for a stunning solo, playing with hands on a collection of Conga’s and Djembe Drums. Knight takes a deep breath before launching into The Water Carriers, and if he had been playing the Guitar rather than the fiddle this piece would equal a heavy metal solo, before it melts into a gentle Middle Eastern air. There’s even a touch of American Blues in a version of Chris Smithers Sitting On Top Of The World. But whatever the style, Knight’s the star – skipping and slipping with the bow or seamlessly switching to pizzicato finger picking – his head back and transfixed, and occasionally singing too. This show is certainly worth catching.