Paul Downes is an exception to the general
rule that our guest performers are based in Sussex. He now lives in Devon but
spent several years in this area and has, for many years been part of the band
I used to play in, the Brighton Taverners.
Even
as a 15-year old he was causing wonderment in west country folk clubs with his
precocious skills and since then he has developed into one of the finest
acoustic guitar players on the folk circuit. Steve Knightley was a schoolmate
but it was with another local contemporary, Phil Beer, with whom he first
achieved national acclaim. The Downes & Beer duo were a hugely successful
live act which produced some memorable albums.
Since
then he has played with Pete Seeger, Show Of Hands, Richard Thompson, Maggie
Boyle and is currently part of Mick Ryan's touring theatre shows.
Why is
he so much in demand? Quite simply because he is one of the most versatile
guitarists you will hear in a long time - with stunning accompaniments to a
huge range of songs, including his own.
As Folk Roots said of him, “An incisive
guitarist...there is smoothness and depth in his voice ... estimable
songwriting skills.”
Support
tonight is from Chichester’s Annie Winter, “the Sussex Nightingale”, a very
fine interpreter of the traditional music of the southern counties.
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