Razor Bill
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Description
Razor Bill is the popular Pembrokeshire folk band... playing and singing traditional and modern folk with a sprinkling of other more 'mainstream' songs and tunes as wanted.
Incidentally, by 'folk' we don't mean that 1970s earnest warbling from someone with their finger in their ear and their eyes shut.
We mean acoustic music from a wide range of sources, both traditional and modern - sort of Mumford & Son meets the Dubliners, from Bellowhead to the Pogues, Oysterband with Steve Earle, and The High Kings alongside Show of Hands.
If we like it and it works, we'll give it a go.
Irish, American and English... with Welsh and French songs and tunes thrown in for good measure. Plus a few you might never expect!
Take a look at our sample set list and you'll see.
Everything from jigs, reels and traditional Irish songs to acoustic hits from the last few years.
No backing tracks, just real instruments and voices - concertina, banjos, guitars, fiddle, whistles, bass, accordion, harmonicas, bodhran, tambourine, mandolin. Even spoons. And some strong vocals.
Not all at once, clearly.
FAQs
Please, describe your act or business in on sentence:
An acoustic band playing traditional and contemporary 'folk' music from Ireland, America, England and Wales... and sometimes further afield
What are the highlights of your career?
The number of people who come up to us after a gig and say thank you, and appreciate that all our music is live and acoustic.
What is your competitive advantage (special features)?
We do what we do because we enjoy having a great time, not for fame or fortune. And that's catching, so if we're having a good time our audiences always do as well.
What kind of events do you usually serve?
Anywhere and anything where a folk band is wanted. Weddings and birthdays, pubs, clubs, village halls, folk festivals and celebrations of all kinds. St Patrick's Day has tended to be in a busy pub, weddings in specialist venues and hotels, and quite often large celebrations in marquees and local halls.
Who are your previous clients?
Fishguard Folk Festival organisers, people holding celebrations, and pub and club owners.
How can event planners pay for your services?
Normally cash on the night with a deposit up front, but we're a trusting bunch so always ready to sort something out.
How long do you play for?
The average gig is 2 sets of about an hour (so something like 28 songs and tunes... plus the odd encore or three).
Do you have your own PA and lighting?
Yes to the PA and sound equipment bit - we invest in good quality gear so the sound is top class. We can provide lighting but normally just go with whatever's in place.
Do you have Public Liability Insurance and PAT tested equipment?
Yes.
How much space do you require?
Enough for five of us to stand/sit in a row, and set up the mics, speakers and mixer. Say, 30 feet x 15 feet (but we've squeezed into smaller).
My favourite tune is not on your list. Will you be able to play it?
Almost certainly. We have learnt quite a few songs for clients, from 'All around my hat' to 'Blaenau Ffestiniog' (in Welsh), from 'Always a woman' to 'La mer' (in French), and from 'Delilah' to 'Hallelujah' ( and back, via Calon Lan).
How many breaks do you take? How long are they?
Either one (20-30 minutes) or two (15-20 minutes) depending on what suits the client.
Set List/Services
We do folk festivals, pubs, clubs, weddings, birthdays and other celebrations... in fact anywhere that wants lively acoustic music.
And we have over 100 songs in our live repertoire at the last count, with another 30+ tunes (jigs, reels, waltzes, polkas and so on).
Here's some of the list.
TRADITIONAL AND 'MODERN' FOLK SONGS
Broad majestic Shannon Dirty old town Clare Island Galway girl Wagon wheel I'll tell me Ma! Dixieland
The greengrocer's daughter Nancy Whiskey All around my hat Mingulay Boat Song Prickleye bush Irish Rover
I'm a man you don't see every day Whiskey in the jar New York girls Wild mountain thyme Gosport Nancy
Road to Santiago Black velvet band Mollymauk Mairi's wedding The Boatman Dancing as fast as I can
Bury me standing Working man Rocky road to Dublin Raggle Taggle Gypsy Durham gaol Delilah
Green fields of France Log cabin home in the sky Sleepless nights McAlpine's Fusiliers Yn Harbwr Corc
Hallelujah Wild colonial boy Auld triangle Santiano (French) Rose of England Kelly, the boy from Killane
Country roads Blue eyes cryin' in the rain (English and/or French) Roddy McCorley Whiskey you're the devil
Goodnight Irene Union maid Newport beach Put out the lights Granite years When the ship comes in
Johnny come lately Star of the County Down Banks of Sicily Kitty Wild rover South Australia Holy ground
Rare old mountain dew The leaving of Liverpool In the jailhouse now Thousands are sailing Body of an American
Leave her Johnny Bobby McGee Fields of Athenry House of the Rising Sun Raggle taggle gypsy
The Ferryman Song for Ireland The Spanish lady Stanton Drew Viva la Quinta Brigada Molly Malone
Working man Galway shawl The band played Waltzing Matilda Lakes of Pontchartrain Steal away
Blaenau Ffestiniog Honey, honey When I'm up Duw it's hard The gambler By Northern Light Muirsheen Durkin
King of the road All the way from Tuam Schooldays over ..... AND MORE
JIGS, REELS, SLIPJIGS, WALTZES & POLKAS
Blackthorn stick Peggy Ryan's fancy Drowsy Maggie (reel) Maid behind the bar Donnybrook Fair (jig)
Horse's Bransle Strayaway child (jig) Ger the rigger (polka) Bill Sullivan's (polka) Cliffs of Moher (jig)
Miss McCloud Concertina reel 100 Pipers St Anne's reel Merry blacksmith Princess Royal (jig)
Connaughtsman's Rambles Pipe on the hob Hag on the churn Sport Hawthorn hedge Frosty Morning
Betty Likens Gold Ring (jig) Trip to Broadford (waltz) Morrison's jig Dick Gossip's reel Cooley's reel
Swannanoa (waltz) Silver Spear (reel) Rights of Man (reel) Wind that shakes the barley Kerry polka
Manx tunes (set of 5) Mereque Farewell to ireland (reel) Elzic's Farewell (reel) The Banshee (reel) The Orphan (jig) Tabhair dom do lamh (waltz) ... and loads more. In fact if you've got a favourite reel or jig, we can do it for you!
SINGALONGS AND SONGS WE'VE BEEN ASKED FOR.
Maggie May Hey Jude 2468 Motorway 500 miles Bugger the bankers Out on the weekend How long will I love you
Stop the cavalry (Christmas!) Auld langsyne (guess when!) Where do you go to, my lovely Calon lan Daydream believer
Always a woman La mer (in French Harvest Hymns and arias (specially for rugby clubs) Heart of gold Myfanwy
YOU NAME IT... WE'LL DO IT FOR YOU.