ArcoMalarkey & StrumaHooley

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ArcoMalarkey & StrumaHooley **

ARCO:            played on a violin or other stringed instrument using the bow
MALARKEY:  silliness, nonsense - we prefer “FUN”

ArcoMalarkey is the pairing of Titch Roberts and Johnny Reeks. They perform tunes picked up from all corners of the globe, put their own stamp on the arrangements, and often add layers with Cello, Bass, Mandolin and Percussion using looped tracks, rhythms and beats.

Strongly influenced by the likes of Dave Swarbrick, Liz Carrol & John Doyle, Martyn Bennett, Anna Meridith, and many, many more ground breaking artists over the years; ArcoMalarkey stretch beyond the boundaries of the individual tune’s tradition and create a unique landscape for the melodies they perform.

With decades of performing and thousands of gigs under their collective belts, ArcoMalarkey deliver a fresh, modern sound to the deep tradition of fiddle tunes, and even the odd song or two - very odd…

Titch (ArcoMalarkey)

First picked up a violin in 1970 - and has been learning ever since. Starting out with Classical tuition, then into a touring medieval band, and then onto a ceilidh band, with many recording and dep sessions along the way. Like many “traditional” fiddle players, playing for dancing has strongly influenced his techniques.

Engineering was the occupation that Titch pursued, and in 2004 a career break saw him hop off the multinational 9-5 routine and embark on an individual business building Electro-Acoustic Instruments. The Chin-Cello (Octave Viola) that Titch uses is a development from that business adventure, allowing fiddle players to create and perform Cello lines without hauling around a big fiddle.

Titch also developed a Dorset based youth folk band under the umbrella of Dorset Music Services. Titch retired from business and teaching in 2002 and is now back focussed on performing.

His other interests are:
Motorbikes
Cheese
Beer

John (Strumahooley)

Started playing guitar under the instruction of some bloke at Dorset Guitar Group. An avid listener to more alternative artists he takes an alternative view of traditional music….

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