See previous Spotlight post (Part 1) below. 

On to part two and the Gigspanner Band which appear to come in different sizes ! 

Firstly there's the trio with fiddle player Peter Knight being joined by percussionist Sacha Trochet and guitarist Roger Flack. The line-up then expands to form the Gigspanner Big Band, with acclaimed multi-instrumental duo Edgelarks (Phillip Henry: dobro & harmonica and Hannah Martin: fiddle, banjo, tenor guitar) along with melodeon player John Spiers.

Only 5 members were around for today's track an excellent recording of the song 'Awake Awake'. John Spiers writes "This song is taken from Cecil Sharp’s English Folk Songs From The Southern Appalachians. The tune at the end, 'Ellen Smith', was found in unpublished extra notes from the collection, in the archive at Cecil Sharp House, London." 

What I particularly like is the approving glances the members give each other, which the video captures brilliantly - Gigspanner Big Band >

Extras:

You will have gathered I've spent quite a lot of time listening to Gigspanner of late: 

The group have collaborated with author Raynor Winn in a show called 'Saltlines' about her book 'The Salt Path' (which I am currently reading). Here is a 2 minute video about the walk - click here. 

Now take an aerial drone flight along the coast (on a slightly out-of-date video). Full screen is best, so you can read the captions ! Take off here. 

‘Found/The Salt Song’ from 'Saltlines' written by vocalist/fiddle player, Hannah Martin, with a great dobro solo from Phillip Henry.