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Irish Folk, Ballads, Jigs and Reels Band.
Philip Taylor
Guitar & Songs
Founder member of the band in 1989, previously with The Tacklers and The Millstone Ceilidh Band.
Samantha Spencer
Guitar, Fiddle, Whistles, Fiddle & Songs. Phil's daughter Sam has already clocked up ten years with the band. She plays a wide range of solo gigs too.
Stephen Bird
Banjo & Mandolin. Steve co-founded the band in1989, and has played with Phil in various bands for over 45 years.
Simon Whitbread
Melodion. Simon's strong playing and background in English and morris folk dance has merged seemlessly with the bands Irish repertoire.
HISTORY OF THE BAND
Whiskey in the Jar formed as long ago as 1989 with founder members Phil Taylor and Stephen Bird for your event. Within two years, Phil and Steve were joined by bassist Jeff Bickerton and guitarist George Harvey, before George was replaced by Teresa Gowan, a talented young fiddle player. Teresa's fixed one-year term ended in 1993 whilst on the band's second tour of Ireland.
During the tour, Manchester-Irish whistle and keyboard player Sean Moran offered his services, and stayed for three years until setting up his own band Shannagh, his place being taken by experienced fiddle player Frank Mallon. After only two years, Frank became ill and we were joined by Chorley legend Ian Grime of the Blue Water Folk band. Sadly, both died within a short time.
Ian and Frank were replaced by Stuart Thompson on banjo, and Jamie Knowles on fiddle, and this line-up remained in placed for nearly ten years. They were both replaced in turn by mandola player and singer Brendan Comer and Philip's daughter Samantha Court who played fiddle, whistles, bodhran and also sang. Brendan was eventually replaced by accordion player Sean Louram, who in turn was replaced by Simon Whitbread.
Since 1989, the band have toured Ireland on five occasions, and released 5 cassette recordings and CD's.
The story continues.
HISTORY OF THE BAND
Whiskey in the Jar formed as long ago as 1989 with founder members Phil Taylor and Stephen Bird for your event. Within two years, Phil and Steve were joined by bassist Jeff Bickerton and guitarist George Harvey, before George was replaced by Teresa Gowan, a talented young fiddle player. Teresa's fixed one-year term ended in 1993 whilst on the band's second tour of Ireland.
During the tour, Manchester-Irish whistle and keyboard player Sean Moran offered his services, and stayed for three years until setting up his own band Shannagh, his place being taken by experienced fiddle player Frank Mallon. After only two years, Frank became ill and we were joined by Chorley legend Ian Grime of the Blue Water Folk band. Sadly, both died within a short time.
Ian and Frank were replaced by Stuart Thompson on banjo, and Jamie Knowles on fiddle, and this line-up remained in placed for nearly ten years. They were both replaced in turn by mandola player and singer Brendan Comer and Philip's daughter Samantha Court who played fiddle, whistles, bodhran and also sang. Brendan was eventually replaced by accordion player Sean Louram, who in turn was replaced by Simon Whitbread.
Since 1989, the band have toured Ireland on five occasions, and released 5 cassette recordings and CD's.
The story continues.
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