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Thread: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music Co

  1. #1
    Registered User trevor's Avatar
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    Default Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music Co

    I don't know how to put this any better so here's my Facebook page entry on this.

    I am delighted, cockahoop and over the moon to have the legendary, one and only Swarb (aka Dave Swarbrick) as a TAMCO and Weber Mandolins sponsor. Whether you were born with the Fairports as a background (or foreground) to your life or discovered them later there’s no denying their influence on folk and pop/rock and their catalogue of great music. Swarb is a major influence in fiddling and plays a mean mandolin.

    Matty Groves from Leige and Leif is one of my all time favourite pieces of music. Just listen to Swarb going for it on that fabulous ending.


    Trevor
    Formerly of The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) Brighton England now retired.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    Quite a coup, Trevor!
    Tim Mundy
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    Registered User amowry's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    Very cool, Trevor! I Grew up listening to Fairport, too, and Swarb was always a hero of mine. One of my first forays into luthiery 25 years ago was building an electric violin so I could sound like him! Sadly, I'll never reach that goal

  4. #4
    String-Bending Heretic mandocrucian's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    Swarb... one of the two or three major inspirations for me to start plunking. (RT was another, Renbourn to a lesser extent.)

    fwi: The only time I ever really experienced an MAS-type moment in 40 years was some 10 years ago (?) when Swarbrick had his Whippersnapper era electric violin up on Ebay. Struck me with full-blown Gollum irrationality.... "the precious, the precious, it should be mine."

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    Registered User Marcus CA's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    Any chance you could post the video either on your website or on YouTube?

    I got to see Swarb on Fairport's reunion tour with Sandy Denny in the mid-70's. Fantastic show! Swarb was so dynamic that he kept drawing my eyes away from Sandy, which says a lot.
    still trying to turn dreams into memories

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    There's an old live recording of he and Martin Carthy where he backs Carthy singing "Broomfield Hill". It's "just" mandolin and voice and Swarb doesn't play chords but weaves in and around the melody. It's absolutely wonderful. He's inspired a lot of us here I'm sure.
    Steve

  7. #7

    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    If you like Dave Swarbrick, get hold of the CD, ' Rags, Reels and Airs ', major mandolin content from Swarb, plus Martin Carthy and Diz Disley accompanying.

    Dave H
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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    Last edited by Dagger Gordon; Jun-15-2012 at 3:13am.
    David A. Gordon

  9. #9

    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    I was lucky enough to see Fairport Convention live a few times in Glasgow in the mid-seventies. They were a wonderful combo, but there was never any doubt who the real hero of live shows was, the diminutive dynamo Dave Swarbrick. I never associated him with the mandolin until now. Thanks for filling in that gap.

    ron

  10. #10
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    Trevor - I wish i had a £ for every time i've seen Dave Swarbrick & Martin Carthy together at the MSG in Manchester. They were very regular visitors & always packed the place. I remember one night when DS showed up with a mandolin for the first time - i was blown away by his playing,not Bluegrass that's for sure,but superb musicianship transcends any genre,& Swarbie's one of the greatest. A wonderful musician & an even greater 'character'. The record that DS & MC made with Diz Disley, "Rags,Reels & Airs",should be on the shopping list of every aspiring 'Folk' style mandolin player,if not ALL mandolin players.As for his Fiddle playing,he can make his Fiddle sing in a manner that very,very few people i've ever heard can - well done Trevor,
    Ivan
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Registered User Richard.g.hampton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    Oh, The Swarb can play....how's this for the epitome of cool?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r8hnls2Wbk

    Richard

  12. #12

    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    Incidently, Martin Carthy also plays mandolin.

    Dave H
    Eastman 615 mandola
    2011 Weber Bitteroot A5
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    2016 Capek ' Bob ' standard scale tenor banjo
    Ibanez Artist 5 string
    2001 Paul Shippey oval hole

  13. #13

    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    Dave is a real hero of mine. Your thread gives me the opportunity to post this picture I had taken with him which I'm very proud of.Click image for larger version. 

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  14. #14
    mandonucs John Uhrig's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

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    2015 Eastman Bowlback

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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    Played a couple of gigs in late '65 in Denmark on the same bill with Ian Campbell Folk Group, which included Swarb. A little jamming back stage in the warm-up room on mando and fiddle, nice as you please. I hear Swarb in nearly all of my own fiddle playing, his imprint is so strong. Picked up "Rights of Man" from him on mando one night. Recently got his latest "Raison d'etre" album from him.

  16. #16
    Registered User Marcus CA's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    Outstanding video post, John! It really shows the trail that Swarb was blazing back then. As much as I like the opening mando tune --- with the bulky pickup in that vintage pumpkin Gibson A --- in the second piece, you really see how he was totally on fire with the fiddle.
    still trying to turn dreams into memories

  17. #17
    mandonucs John Uhrig's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dA6Uq65YorQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

    Here is another one This was posted elswhere on the cafe but I just had to share it again
    1919 Gibson A3
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  18. #18
    mandonucs John Uhrig's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention), Weber, Acoustic Music C

    1919 Gibson A3
    1920 Gibson A2
    1937 Gibson K1 Mandocello
    2015 Eastman Bowlback

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