Swan Arcade

Swan Arcade were a British folk music vocal group formed in 1970. "A leading light of the British folk revival" they sang a wide variety of songs, including blues, pop and rock and roll, as well as traditional folk music, mostly performed a cappella. Swan Arcade also performed with The Watersons as the Boggle Hole Chorale, and The Watersons and Martin Carthy as Blue Murder. They finally disbanded in 1988, but one of their members, Jim Boyes, still performs as part of Coope Boyes and Simpson.

Formation

The group was formed in Yorkshire in 1970 by Dave Brady (b Dave Christopher Bradley, 12 August 1943 at Ilkley, Yorkshire) his wife, Heather Brady (née Johnston b Heather Margaret Johnston, 13 June 1943 at Dagenham) and bass vocalist Jim Boyes (b 14 November 1945 at Bridlington, Yorkshire) Despite having lost an arm in a motorcycle accident, Dave Brady also played concertina, by holding it between his knees, and also played synthesiser and bass. Heather Brady played dulcimer and cello, whilst Boyes occasionally played guitar. The trio were well-matched vocalists, and the band became known for its close harmony, "a cappella" singing, and the use of a wide variety of influences, including blues, pop and rock and roll. They performed songs such as "Paperback Writer" and "Lola" as well as traditional folk music and both old and new protest songs such as "The Battle of Sowerby Bridge", "Shipbuilding" and "Coal Not Dole" which they performed at several benefit concerts during the UK miners' strike (1984–1985). Dave Brady was known for his wild eyes, shaggy beard and aggressive style, often shouting "Sing, yer buggers, SING" at the audience, so that "the staider confines of the English Folk Dance and Song Society recoiled at the raucousness of it all". The band took its name from Swan Arcade, Bradford a Victorian shopping arcade which had controversially been demolished.