FYRISH - the folk duo FYRISH is a folk duo of Marjorie Paterson (cello) and Dave Cowan (vocals and guitar). Marjorie Paterson is a cello player, originally from the Black Isle, who grew up in a musical family and who has a natural gift for music and harmony and loves to play a wide range of styles. Dave Cowan is a singer and guitar player from Glasgow who has been singing traditional and contemporary folk songs for many years. He has a relaxed, easy style and a mellow voice. FYRISH have a wide repertoire of folk songs from all over the world, with lyrics which will grab your attention, and melodies to warm the heart. Recent Quotes: "FYRISH performed sensationally at the Doncaster Folk Festival this year. The amazingly dextrous voice of Dave Cowan is complimented by Marjorie Paterson's mellifluous cello.Their repertoire is intelligently selected and a set by them is a sheer delight to experience…..” John Wheeler, Doncaster Folk Festival, 2007 “….I am always pleased to hear Dave's selection of songs and Marj's lovely cello at Barnsley Folk Club and I do know that they are well received and getting more popular by the minute. Such lovely unassuming people whose music is certainly popular with Barnsley Folk Club's resident musicians." Ray Padgett, Chairman, Barnsley Folk Club MARJORIE PATERSON Marjorie Paterson has been interested in music - listening and playing – for as long as she can remember. There was always music in her house, whether her mother singing Gaelic songs or her father's fiddle tunes. Marjorie says: " My father used to stand outside my bedroom door playing to send me to sleep, the tune fading as he walked further away. If I didn't go to sleep quickly, I learned that I got more tunes!" Marjorie started playing the cello in school, but has always preferred traditional music and she particularly enjoys accompanying singers. “I’ve always liked a good tune; old or new, from near or far – Jean Redpath or The Byrds”. She has played with Tryst, Alan Jones and John McCreadie, The White St. Band, with Alastair Robertson; and The Govan Spoonful. Marjorie has recorded with Ian Davison, and most recently with FYRISH, together with singer/guitarist Dave Cowan. DAVID COWAN Dave Cowan has been collecting and singing folk songs for over 40 years. In primary school at age 10 he won the school singing prize – not because he had the best voice, but because he was the only one prepared to stand up and sing in front of the class. He has been performing ever since - learning folk songs and to play guitar, initially, at Scout campfires and at the school folk club. Early musical influences were The Clancy Brothers, The Dubliners, The Islanders and The Corries, as well as the pop music of the 1960’s. In the early 1970’s sang in a folk trio called ‘Tricycle’ which won a talent contest in the South side of Glasgow and, as a result, recorded some session music on an ‘easy-listening’ folk compilation and also released a full length album and did one television spot on ‘Thingummyjig’. In the 1980’s Dave lived in Yorkshire and was active in the folk scene there, singing as a solo performer in local clubs and at festivals. From 1990 to 2005 he was based in his home city of Glasgow and continued to be active in the folk scene. He has, in the past, won TMSA singing competitions for unaccompanied traditional song, but is better known around the clubs and festivals as a singer / guitarist, performing both contemporary and traditional material, either solo, or with cello player Marjorie Paterson in their band FYRISH. He is currently based back in Yorkshire, where FYRISH are establishing a reputation around the clubs and festivals. “David Cowan is a compelling singer with real honesty in his (very fine) voice. You find yourself being drawn to his music in a quite magical way – and that’s even without the allure of the oh-so-subtle cello accompaniments provided by Marjorie Paterson. David sings songs of rare power; his rendition of When The Boys Are on Parade, for instance, challenges all of us to think about our attitude to soldiering and war. So: go and listen to him and Marjorie, there’s a treat in store for you…” Steve McGrail All links open in a new window David and Marjorie are available for bookings at fyrish@fyrish.org Gigs and music on Myspace.com
Fyrish - the place and history Fyrish Music Clip - (requires broadband) This is the FYRISH website at www.fyrish.org |
