Hi, 

I'm Barry Wake and I am a songwriter/singer based in Southampton UK.

I write for and perform mainly in folk clubs and at folk festivals. You can probably glean that my great joy is working with other musicians; my solo performances are rare and quite brief these days.

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From 1989 to 2005 I played banjo in a five piece old time string band for the fast and fabulous LOOSE SCREWS Appalachian Dancers and their subsequent spin-off KALEIDOSCOPE. What a brilliant time that was, playing at so many festivals and events, to such appreciative and enthusiastic audiences.

Here's a track from the album

Loose Screws Unclogged  >>>>>>

Since 1997 I have been playing banjo in the band for the much acclaimed SOUTHERN LIGHTS ladies traditional dance team - both choreography and music are very definitely out of the ordinary. Catch them if you can. Go to  https://southernlights0.wixsite.com/my-site-1 for more information.

Here's a clip from a typical SL practice night, complete with clashing sticks, thumping feet and occasional shrieks of absolute joy  >>>>>> 

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On very rare occasions I meet up with Chris and Siobhan Nelson to do some very off the cuff gigs as NELSONS WAKE - Southampton and Southport are too far apart for much more!

Go to www.facebook.com/Chris.Siobhan  to see what they are up to.

Here's a track from the NW album Ebb and Flow >>>>>>

 

April 2013 saw the tenth and last performance of a show called "LOOK OUT! Southampton's Titanic Story in Song", which I co-wrote with Brian Hooper and Jeff Henry. White Star Line Up, comprising eight, sometimes nine musicians and two narrators played to capacity audiences and received excellent reviews. Best thing I've ever done!
A double album of the 23 songs in the show is available from me.

Here's a track from the album Look Out! >>>>>>

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In 2019, I worked again with Jeff Henry and Brian Hooper, the two other writers of "LOOK OUT!"

The three of us put together and performed a stripped down version of the show, re-titled "THE NIGHT THE SHIP WENT DOWN" . This version comprised 13 songs with a more intimate, accompanying narrative and focussed more on the look-outs and the people waiting at home. We performed the show at The Nuffield theatre (City) twice and at Hanger Farm Arts Centre, and it was very well received

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And right now.....

 

Since 2013, I have been working with a brilliant group of musicians and singers - old friends Mary Lee, Ali Campion and Ann Stonehouse (.we were all in the Titanic "LOOK OUT!" show). Ann moved on to pastures new in 2021 and we welcome two fine musicians, Liz Trueman and Hamish Gavin. 

We are BEGGAR'S BELIEF and we meet as often as we can to put together and add to a very wide range of songs gleaned from a wealth of performing and writing experience. If you've seen us perform you'll know how much we enjoy what we are doing! We are all eagerly awaiting the chance to actually play our music to an audience.

Go to https://beggarsbelief8.wixsite.com/my-site to find out more about our new line-up and to see what we are up to (there'a CD out now!).

Here's a track from the BB album Lately >>>>>>>

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