Born in Abingdon in 1975, John grew up surrounded by morris dancers and the associated tunes. It wasn’t until later years however, missing access to a piano when he was at University, that he took up the melodeon and rediscovered the tunes he had heard as a child. He has a degree in Natural Science from Cambridge University, and turned professional as a musician in 2004.
John played with Jon Boden in Eliza Carthy’s band The Ratcatchers, and in 2007 received the English Folk Dance & Song Society 75th Anniversary Award (Oxford).
John also features on the following CDs:
- Sea Shanties (2002) (The Gift of Music) - also featuring Jon Boden, Ian Giles and Graham Metcalfe.
- Folk Music of England (1999) (The Gift of Music) - also featuring Amber Quartet, Dragonsfire, Ian Giles, Dr Faustus.
- Folk Music of Wales (1999) (The Gift of Music) - also features Benji Kirkpatrick, Paul Sartin, Dragonsfire, Amber Quartet, Ian Giles and Jon Banks.