Dave Pegg & Anthony John Clarke

Dave Pegg & Anthony John Clarke

Friday 4th November 2022

Melbourne Assembly Rooms

Legendary multi-instrumentalist Dave 'Peggy' Pegg (Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull) will be joined again by one of the top singer-songwriters on the acoustic/folk scene, Anthony John Clarke. The evening will see the duo perform a variety of much loved songs and hits, with their own unique brand of humour and banter, 'seamlessly' blended into the proceedings!Anthony John Clarke was born on 18th October 1956, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, a place where he spent much of his childhood, growing up during the 'Troubles' and conflicts of the late 1960's. He started songwriting at the age of nine, inspired by the music of the sixties and he later moved to Liverpool, living and performing as a singer-songwriter..."All I ever wanted to be was a writer of songs. From the minute I heard Barry Maguire singing the song “Eve of Destruction” and held the single “Like A Rolling Stone” by Dylan in my hand. From those beautiful Sunday evenings I would sit and watch Al Stewart, John Martyn, Claire Hamill and Christy Moore and a host of other greats grace the University Hall stage in Belfast, and from the time I spent my paper round money on a second hand Eko Ranger 6 at Smithfield Market, I was doomed."Audience quotes from some of Anthony John's gigs..."Put simply, he was fabulous...Faultless stage-craft combined with superb musicianship..He really was the ultimate troubadour raconteur, the stories complimenting the songs..Just brill!"- Lyceum Folk Club of Newport."Anthony John Clarke is up there for me with the likes of Al Stewart most certainly...a singer songwriter of such quality."- Richard Brennan, Stortfolk Folk Club."If you haven't been to one of his gigs yet, just take time to do so - it will have an effect, I promise you. I bought his double CD and songbook at the end of the evening - the best value I've had out of twenty quid in a very long time. Brilliantly crafted songs and great entertainment. Nice one AJ".- Vic Harrop, Bothy Folk Club.www.anthonyjohnclarke.com 

Dave Pegg was born on 2nd November 1947 and brought up in Acocks Green, Birmingham. He joined Fairport Convention in 1969.  As a teenager, Dave became involved in Birmingham's vibrant 60s rock scene. He soon found himself playing guitar most evenings with one or other of the city's young bands. Later, Dave auditioned as a lead guitarist with The Uglys but was persuaded to swap to bass guitar and has played the instrument ever since. After a spell with The Uglys, Dave joined the Ian Campbell Folk Group on double bass and met fiddle maestro Dave Swarbrick by whom he was introduced to Fairport Convention. He joined them and has been in the band ever since. In 1980, he joined Jethro Tull as bass player and spent 15 years with the band. As if playing in two bands was not enough, he set up Woodworm Records to produce and market Fairport's albums. He also recorded a solo album. Dave has also co-organised Fairport's Cropredy festival since the early 1980s. From small beginnings, it has grown into a major event that attracts 20,000 fans each August. As well as recording and touring with Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull, Dave is much in demand as a session player and has contributed bass to innumerable recordings. He is also an accomplished mandolin player. Dave splits his time between his homes in Banbury, Oxfordshire and Merlevenez, Brittany.www.fairportconvention.com