Diddly-Skwot

New Web Site Promoting Paddy's Whiskers' Barn Dances and Ceilidhs.

2010-09-15T03:16:00.000-07:00

Our new web site Devon Barn Dances is online now. Lots of information on the great ceilidhs and dances offered by Paddy's Whiskers and Re-Jig for weddings and parties in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Across the South West.

Summer 2010, Gigs, Barn Dances and Ceilidhs Across Devon and Cornwall

2010-09-01T05:28:00.000-07:00

Paddy's Whiskers have been busy playing ceilidhs, barndances and gigs at festivals, pubs, weddings and parties across Devon and the south west throughout the summer.

Last week we played a lovely gig on our home turf at The Boathouse in Paignton.

These brilliant photographs were taken at the gig by Tim Reeves professional photographer and friend from our weekly meditation group. Thanks Tim.

You can check out Paddy's Whiskers specialist site on barndances and ceilidhs in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and across the South West here.

St. Patrick's Day with Paddy's Whiskers in Totnes

2010-03-26T02:43:00.000-07:00

Paddy's Whiskers had a great night playing a benefit for Amnesty International at The Barrel House in Totnes on St. Patricks Day. A brilliant crowd who were well 'up' for it! And nearly £300 raised for a good cause. Thanks everybody and thanks to Leonie Van Wijk for this video clip of the band playing their footstomping celtic music.

Summer 2010 - Celtic Irish Weddings, Gigs, Ceilidhs and Barndances in Devon and the South West

2010-03-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

Paddy's Whiskers have another busy summer ahead of them playing their own unique brand of foot stompin' Irish, Celtic and American music at gigs, parties, weddings, ceilidhs and barn dances across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and the South West.

Our new set takes audiences on a ride through some of the finest songs from celtic inspired traditional music backed with fast and furious jigs, reels and bluegrass breakdowns to get everybody up and dancing.

We love a good party and we love helping to make a special celebration...Paddy's Whiskers bring their own high quality PA system plus excellent lighting and a "resident" DJ to all their gigs.

Check out our website and Facebook page for more information or give Andrew or Jules a ring on 01803 520798.

Paddy's Whiskers New Facebook Page

2010-03-12T07:54:00.001-08:00

Paddy's Whiskers have a new Facebook page up and running. Check it out and sign up to be a "fan"!!

The Lark in the Morning

2009-11-09T01:52:00.000-08:00

There's a demo version of Paddy's Whiskers new set "The Lark in the Morning" on our myspace page. This is the first recording we've made featuring Simon on bass...and the new arrangement owes a lot to him. We love the new sound.

Maths Teaching and Tuition in Devon

2009-11-09T01:49:00.000-08:00

Our friend Robin Andrews has a new website promoting his private maths teaching and tuition for SATS, GCSEs and A level students www.mathstuitiondevon.co.uk. Robin is based in Buckfastleigh and Totnes but is prepared to travel across South Devon, the South Hams and Torbay to teach. He uses student centred teaching styles so that his approach is always suitable for the individual's needs.

A Busy Summer

2009-11-09T01:41:00.000-08:00

We've had an exciting, busy summer gigging with Paddy's Whiskers all over the South West. Highlights have included lovely gigs in Torquay on the quay side on a hot summer's afternoon, and playing for the Sea Fest at Brixham in September, along with a dozen or more wedding celebrations.....thanks everybody.

We've a whole load of new material in the set now, and Simon the bass is bringing a new dimension to the Whiskers' full on footstomping celtic Irish sound. As the autumn arrives we are back in the Kitchen Studio recording an album which should be ready in the spring.

A New Line Up For Paddy's Whiskers

2009-07-07T10:47:00.001-07:00

With over 30 gigs lined up for the summer, Paddy's Whiskers are delighted to welcome bass guitarist Simon Field to the line up. Simon,(pictured above making his debut with the Whiskers at Teignmouth Folk Festival on 21st June) adds a whole new warm and rocky sound to the Whisker's contemporary slant on Irish, Celtic and American music.

New Devon Barn Dances and Ceilidhs Web Site

2009-02-21T08:19:00.001-08:00

Paddy's Whiskers four piece footstompin' celtic and Irish music band have a new website online www.devonbarndances.co.uk promoting their excellent barn dances and ceilidhs for weddings and parties in Devon and the South West.

Paddy's Whiskers - Barn Dances and Ceilidhs Devon

2009-02-11T11:03:00.001-08:00

Paddy's Whiskers have been busy with a string of barn dances and ceilidhs across Devon, Cornwall and the South West. Our full power barnstorming style seems to be going down a treat and we've many bookings for weddings and private parties in 2009. Check out www.paddyswhiskers.co.uk for information on booking the best barn dance and ceilidh band in Devon and the South West.

Thanks for the great photo wyndi at stompin-about.

Re-Jig - Live Irish Folk Music - Devon - Home Page

2008-10-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

Re-Jig playing live Irish and Celtic folk music based in Devon, have a new home page online at www.re-jig.org. We've bought a loop pedal and we are working on some remix tracks and video projections to include in our show.

Re-Jig

2008-09-15T13:08:00.001-07:00

So - after a busy summer gigging with Paddy's Whiskers, Diddly Skwot are relaunching themselves as Re-Jig - fast and furious Irish jigs and reels plus experiments with a loop pedal....... Check out our new myspace page Re-Jig.

Brixham Busker

2008-04-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

Guess Who??

Thanks to Terry, who filmed Andrew, edited and posted the next day. Check out his other films including a time lapse film using Andrew playing "Paddy in London" as a soundtrack.

Latest Adventures of the Whiskers

2008-04-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

Paddy's Whiskers have been busy gigging and recording. Paul from the band has splashed out and bought fantastic new PA - a 1KW RCF rig with a feedback crusher and a big mixing desk. Our next run out is on 3rd of May at Paddy's Bar, Paignton.

We've also created a Paddy's Whiskers website to help us in the google game. More stuff will be added to it soon.

Paddy's Whiskers

2008-01-17T02:54:00.001-08:00

We've a new band coming together for 2008. Very exciting. We recorded a practice session in our kitchen the other night. You can hear the results at our new myspace site. Paddy's Whiskers

Winter Sun on Catbells

2008-01-17T02:49:00.000-08:00

More work by our old friend and scrabble opponent John Cheall.

Old Friends

2007-12-06T04:04:00.001-08:00

"I am inspired by wild unspoiled places, there is an enlightened state of mind to be found in their unbroken silence and beauty"
(John Cheall)

This is a view of Guisborough in North East England, where Andrew spent his formative years. It's painted by John Cheall, an old friend from those days and an excellent painter of landscapes. Check out his website.

I (A) have recently been reunited with John through the wonderful world of the web. Indeed we are now engaged in a three way game of online scrabble with Simon, another old friend from Guisborough days. Simon is another dharma bum too - a member of a zen sangha in Toledo, Ohio. In the old days we spent hours in the hills behind Guisborough (from where John's view is taken). Precious times. We three old gits have been apart for years but we are all now interested in "enlightenment" in our own ways.

Now Jules and I are back living in England we have relatively few friends close at hand and the good old web is a great way of staying in touch with people.

Raining

2007-12-06T03:59:00.000-08:00

Its raining....has been for days. No street work possible. Oh well. Stay in, warm and dry.

Fiddle Lessons

2007-12-06T03:51:00.000-08:00

Jules has a couple of students coming for fiddle lessons. Great. She wanted a CD to give to her students of the tracks she is teaching them so one evening we sat down with the mixer and the laptop and recorded Jules fiddling and Andrew accompanying with chords on the mandola. Three tracks, Flop Eared Mule, Mountain Road/Cooleys and The Hags Purse/Morrissons. The results were very pleasing - the clearest, cleaning recordings we have of ourselves. Guess eventually we'll get round to putting them on a diddly-skwot myspace.....

Words of Wisdom from Sharpham (2)

2007-12-03T03:59:00.000-08:00

"Its up to us whether we are at peace or not......"

Mahesi, Sharpham, November 29th 2007

Waves

2007-12-03T03:43:00.000-08:00

Photoshopped picture of waves off Redcliffe, Paignton.

Words of Wisdom from Sharpham (1)

2007-11-24T13:22:00.000-08:00

"Let go of concern for the content of our experience......"

Mahesi, teacher at thursday night open meditation session, Sharpham, Ashprington, Devon

Preston Sands

2007-11-24T13:10:00.001-08:00

Friday 9th November - Irish Session at The Wellington, Ipplepen

2007-11-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

To the pub in Ipplepen for a session - six of us in total but only a disjointed hour of music before the others had to go home for various reasons. A month ago the session was rocking so a little disappointed. We drank beer and made some new friends instead so a worthwhile night out none the less.

Thursday 8th November - Rainy Newton Abbot

2007-11-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

An early start in Newton Abbot. Going well until outflanked by an accordionist 100 yards to the right and a couple of big issue sellers to the left. Too many street workers makes no cash for anyone. The big issue guys are regulars on this street - as is the accordion player. Fair play. However if you have two buskers close together then all the public can hear is a sound mush. Its diddly-skwot policy never to start playing if there is already somebody busking within earshot.......Then it started raining. Ho hum.

Swinging in Teignmouth

2007-11-05T12:31:00.000-08:00

Teignmouth - what a great town. There must be something in the water. The locals love music. It always works well for us here. Lots of positive feedback. Andrew is playing the banjo to avoid upsetting the shopkeepers in the narrow main street - the mandola's amplification having caused a few comments last time out. Consequently met a bloke from Paignton learning to play the five-string banjo and a kind lady from Teignmouth who plays the tenor banjo in a jazz band. The tenor banjist had spoken to us last time we were in town - telling us how much she liked the music. Positive comments are at least as good as the cash drops. Brilliant play park on the seafront too which keeps the Blake thing happy....

Paignton - 1st November 2007

2007-11-02T03:19:00.000-07:00

We had to find a new place to play on Paignton High Street because the closed shopfront we usually used has turned into yet another greetings card outlet. Chose to play under a tree opposite Stokes' veg shop - nice smiles from the staff. Also we went out too early so takings were slow to start with, but it picked up when Jules took over on the second shift. Taking photos for this blog made people take more interest -'if they are being photographed they must be good....'.

Blake learning to drive in Victoria Park while Jules does her shift.

A beautiful morning....