Pioneering folk duo to appear at the Apex later this month

Every so often, pioneers emerge whose imaginative approach to playing traditional music causes people to sit up and listen.

Peter Knight and John Spiers, (pictured above) for example. Peter Knight, as part of Steeleye Span’s classic 1970s line-up, helped invent a brand of folk rock that is still influential today; John Spiers, as co-founder of the mighty Bellowhead, has had an equally profound impact on the landscape of traditional music over the last two decades and the pair are set to appear at the Apex, in Bury St Edmunds, later this month.

Having first come together as a “one off” gig at FolkEast in 2016, the duo has developed into one of the most thrilling exponents of traditional music, always consciously respectful of their heritage but not afraid to bend the rules.

The pairing of violin and melodeon is not a new one, but in the hands of Knight and Spiers, improvisation and invention meet the listener at every turn. Together they create music that resonates with history, while also inspiring future generations of musicians to engage with the tunes that can be found within Britain’s folk dancing heritage.

Their most recent album “Both in a Tune” has received outstanding critical acclaim and was named as one of the “10 Best New Albums from Around the World” by the influential music journal, Songlines.

Described, by Tradfolk, as an exquisite collection, “it makes use of well-known traditional pieces, repurposing them as jumping-off points into an enchanting exploration” of folk music.

Knight & Spiers will be at the Apex on Thursday, April 13, at 7.30pm. Visit the websitewww.theapex.co.uk or ring 01284 758000 for more information or to book tickets.