Churchfitters
Encyclopedia
The Churchfitters are an English
folk
group, and were founded in 1978 by singer/songwriter Anthony McCartan from Belfast
and multi-instrumentist Geoff Coombs from Essex
(later a founding member of the band Kip Keano), after a band they had previously both toured with collapsed.
Rosie Short joined soon after its formation having previously been playing in a London-based traditional Irish outfit. During the years that followed, the group frequently changed its line-up, as well as having many guest performers including reed maker Chris Apps. She plays whistle, flute, saxophone, banjo, dulcimer and ukulele, and more!
They enjoyed great success, frequently touring East Anglia
, before slimming down to a duo (Anthony and Rosie) in order to tour extensively throughout Europe
and even as far as Australia
.
In 1993 the duo decided to move to Brittany
, France
and was joined by Rosie's brother Chris who had been in London playing in World, Irish and Bluegrass groups. Chris plays fiddle, mandolin, whistle, and musical saw.
In 1999, after 19 years of touring, they recorded their first studio album Deep Sky Blue in Vern-sur-Seiche
. This was followed by Strange News in 2001 and the live album This Fine Night in 2003 taking tracks from their recent tour of France.
From their base in Brittany they then toured as a trio throughout France and Europe until Anthony's death after a long battle with cancer on the 4 September 2004.
Shortly afterwards Boris Lebret (double bass, home made bass, six-string bass banjo, bing-bong-box and percussion) and Christopher Loudon (vocals, bouzouki and guitar) joined the group & they have since produced three new albums. New Tales for Old (2005), Amazing (2007) & Sing (2009)
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
group, and were founded in 1978 by singer/songwriter Anthony McCartan from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and multi-instrumentist Geoff Coombs from Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
(later a founding member of the band Kip Keano), after a band they had previously both toured with collapsed.
Rosie Short joined soon after its formation having previously been playing in a London-based traditional Irish outfit. During the years that followed, the group frequently changed its line-up, as well as having many guest performers including reed maker Chris Apps. She plays whistle, flute, saxophone, banjo, dulcimer and ukulele, and more!
They enjoyed great success, frequently touring East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
, before slimming down to a duo (Anthony and Rosie) in order to tour extensively throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and even as far as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
In 1993 the duo decided to move to Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and was joined by Rosie's brother Chris who had been in London playing in World, Irish and Bluegrass groups. Chris plays fiddle, mandolin, whistle, and musical saw.
In 1999, after 19 years of touring, they recorded their first studio album Deep Sky Blue in Vern-sur-Seiche
Vern-sur-Seiche
Vern-sur-Seiche is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany in north-western France.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Vern-sur-Seiche are called in French Vernois.-References:* ;* -External links:* *...
. This was followed by Strange News in 2001 and the live album This Fine Night in 2003 taking tracks from their recent tour of France.
From their base in Brittany they then toured as a trio throughout France and Europe until Anthony's death after a long battle with cancer on the 4 September 2004.
Shortly afterwards Boris Lebret (double bass, home made bass, six-string bass banjo, bing-bong-box and percussion) and Christopher Loudon (vocals, bouzouki and guitar) joined the group & they have since produced three new albums. New Tales for Old (2005), Amazing (2007) & Sing (2009)