Peter Knight (folk musician)

For other people with this name, see Peter Knight (disambiguation).

File:Steeleye Span - Fairport's Cropredy Convention 2006 (2).jpg

Peter Knight and Maddy Prior at Fairport's Cropredy Convention 2006.

Peter Knight (born 27 May 1947) is a folk musician, former member of the electric folk group Steeleye Span.

Peter Knight was born in London. As a child he learned the violin and mandolin before going to the Royal Academy of Music from 1960 to 1964. The recordings of the Irish fiddler Michael Coleman inspired him to take part in Irish pub sessions. He teamed up with guitarist and singer Bob Johnson until 1970 when he joined Steeleye Span. The parting was short-lived, as Bob Johnson himself also joined Steeleye Span in 1972.

Steeleye Span

Main article: Steeleye Span

Peter's classical roots were well hidden until he recorded "A Canon by Telemann" on the album Back In Line, multi-tracking with himself on this tricky baroque piece. In the mid-70s he was secretly a member of The Wombles and appeared on Top of The Pops as Uncle Bulgaria, with Rick Kemp and Bob Johnson also in Womble suits. He left Steeleye Span in January 1977, when it started to look as if the band was about to break up. Peter teamed up with Bob Johnson once more, to record a concept album The King of Elfland's Daughter (1978), based on the novel by Lord Dunsany. It included one song sung by blues legend Alexis Korner and another by Mary Hopkin. In 1980 he returned to Steeleye Span and has appeared on every one of their albums since then.

He announced his decision to leave Steeleye Span at the end of 2013 on his website on 14 November 2013.

Feast of Fiddles

Some of the most accomplished folk fiddlers of England and Scotland joined together for a tour in 2001. An album of live performances from the 2001 tour was sold as "Feast of Fiddles" in 2002. The group has continued to tour annually since 2001, but describe themselves as "unsigned". They sell albums of live performances from previous concerts, but in a very restricted way. The CDs are available at the gigs or over the internet. They consist mainly of traditional English tunes, in varying combinations of solo, duo or band.

Other projects

• In 1982 he joined "Moire Music" a free-jazz group led by Trevor Watts, while still remaining as a member of Steeleye. Liam Genockey was drummer with the group, and would later become a member of Steeleye Span, when Nigel Pegrum left.
• Peter's classical and jazz influences surfaced again in 1998 when he recorded An Ancient Cause and The Gemini Cadenza, multi-tracking with himself.
• In 1999 he recorded an album with bass-player Danny Thompson, best known for his work with John Martyn.
• Peter is concentrating on developing his Trio 'Gigspanner' which features himself on fiddle, Vincent Salzfaas on percussion and Roger Flack on semi-acoustic guitar. They play a highly individual blend of traditional folk and hot jazz with African rhythms. Their debut album, released November 2008 is called Lipreading The Poet. It was named by The Wire Magazine as one of the best 15 'Global' Albums of 2009. They are undertaking an increasing number of touring and festival commitments.
• Peter lives in France.
• He appeared as a guest on Mostly Autumn's 2007 album Heart Full of Sky and performed also as a guest at their album launch show at the London Astoria on 10 February 2007.

Discography (excluding Steeleye Span)

With Bob Johnson

• The King of Elfland's Daughter (1978)

Solo

• An Ancient Cause (1998)
• The Gemini Cadenza (1998)
• Too Late For Shadows (2005)

With Danny Thompson

• Peter Knight and Danny Thompson (1999)

Maddy Prior

• Ballads and Candles (2000)

With Chris Leslie, Tom Leary, Ian Cutler, Phil Beer and Brian McNeill

• Feast of Fiddles (2002) (recorded live in 2001)
• Nicely Wrong
• Still Live (live 2006)

With Gigspanner (Peter, Vincent Salzfaas, Roger Flack)

• Lipreading The Poet
• Doors At Eight (live)
• "Layers of Ages" Released May 2015

External links

• Official web site
• Feast of fiddles