Houghton Weavers

The Houghton Weavers are an English

banjo-ukulele, bouzouki, piano accordion and vocals), Steve Millington (bass guitar, keyboards, acoustic guitar, piano accordion and vocals) and Jim Berry

(guitar, harmonica and vocals).

David Littler is a founder member of the band, Steve Millington joined in 1996, and Jim Berry joined in 2017. Jim's brother Tony Berry had been a founder member of the band but died in June 2019.[2]

Previous members were Norman Prince (1975 to 1999,

12 string guitar, electric guitar and vocals), and Tony Berry (1975 to 2019, vocals). Whilst never officially a member of the band, Alan Fawkes

was a frequent guest - "he couldn't stand the drop in pay" (dates unknown: woodwind instruments).

They sing mainly English folk music, much of it in Lancashire dialect, as well as folk versions of easy listening hits. The group demonstrate an eclectic range of song subjects including "The Blackpool Belle", "Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls" and "The Lion of Vienna" in accolade of footballer Nat Lofthouse.

They are best known for their BBC TV show Sit Thi Deawn (Lancashire dialect for "have a seat", referring to the hospitality of Lancashire people). The programme ran for six series or seven years and was a mixture of easy listening music and comedy for a local audience.^[3] The group also starred in six of their own series for BBC Radio 2.

History

In 2014, lead singer Berry was unable to perform due to throat cancer and attended as a sound mixer.^[4] On 14 June 2019, it was reported that Tony Berry had died due to pancreatic cancer.^[4]

Quotations

"With 'folk' you either think of something like the Houghton Weavers, or proper folk." – Andy Kershaw^[5]

Selected discography

Howfen Wakes, 1976
Gone are the Days, 1977
Sit Thi Deawn, 1978
Clatter o' Clogs', 1979
In Concert, 1979
Up Your Way, 1980
Alive and Kicking, 1981
In the Rare Ould Times, 1983
Keep Folk Smiling, 1985
It’s Good to See You, 1986
Lancashire Lads, 1988
When Granny Sang Me Songs, 1990
Christmas Collection, 1991

The Keeper, 1992
Work of the Weavers, 1993
Live at the City Varieties, Leeds, 1995
The Best of Houghton Weavers, 1995
What a Wonderful World, 1996
Lancashire Folk, 1997
Glory of Love, 1998
On the Road, 1999
Houghton Weavers: Collection Vol. 1, 2000
Blackpool Belle: Collection Vol. 2, 2000
Come Landlord: Collection Vol. 3, 2001
We Wish You a Merry Christmas, 2002
30th Anniversary Collection, 2004

Howfen Wakes (Remastered), 2005
Gone are the Days (Remastered), 2005
Sit Thi Deawn (Remastered), 2005
Made in Howfen (DVD), 2005
20 Folk Classics, 2007
Ae Fond Kiss, 2009
At Home with The Weavers (DVD), 2010
Lancashire Leads the Way, 2010
Songs of Conflict, 2012
In Session at the Carnegie Hall (DVD), 2012
By Request, 2014
Christmas in Lancashire, 2016
Some of the Best, 2017
New World in the Morning, 2022

References

^ "About Us". Houghtonweavers.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
^ "Tony Berry". Houghtonweavers.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
^ "SIT THI DEAWN (1979)". BFI Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 8 November 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2007.
^ ^a ^b Kelly, Angela (14 June 2019). "Houghton Weavers star Tony Berry dies aged 69". The Bolton News. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ "HMHB News Archive July – December 2002". 30 September 2002. Archived from the original on 26 April 2003. Retrieved 6 March 2007.

External links

Official Website

[1] "About Us". Houghtonweavers.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.

[2] "Tony Berry". Houghtonweavers.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.

[3] "SIT THI DEAWN (1979)". BFI Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 8 November 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2007.

[cancer-4] Kelly, Angela (14 June 2019). "Houghton Weavers star Tony Berry dies aged 69". The Bolton News. Retrieved 25 July 2019.

[5] "HMHB News Archive July – December 2002". 30 September 2002. Archived from the original on 26 April 2003. Retrieved 6 March 2007.

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