Dave Swarbrick
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: Classified Section
Forum Name: Obituaries
Forum Description: Pay your respects here
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2933
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 4:02am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Dave Swarbrick
Posted By: McHolmeM
Subject: Dave Swarbrick
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2016 at 7:39pm
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Sad to report that unlike in 1999 the obituary in tomorrow's Daily Telegraph this time will be factually correct. Saw him perform many times, first of all in the early years of Fairport and latterly as part of Lazarus. In fact a performance in 2006 in a cold medieval theatre just after his return to performance following his transplant nearly proved the death of him! A highly skilled fiddle player, he was always entertaining and had a huge knowledge of English folk music history. He will be sadly missed.
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Replies:
Posted By: IntempestaNocte
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2016 at 10:58pm
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"Farewell, farewell to you, who would hear You lonely travelers all The cold north wind will blow again The winding road does call" Truly sad news. I had always hoped to see him play live, now I'll never have the chance. Goodbye Swarb, you will be missed.  ------------- Scott AT150MLX > Audiomods Series V Standard > Rega RP6 > Accession MM > Marantz PM6005 > KEF Q100 / Solo UL > HD540II. Voyager, Bitzie, AgSat90. |
Posted By: Bi-wire
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2016 at 5:22pm
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So sad to hear of 'Swarb's' death. I don't usually get too bothered by the death of performers, musicians etc but Dave Swarbrick and his music seems to have been a part of my life for so long, even when I didn't realise. From those formative teenage years in the late-60s when I was introduced to folk music by my sister's then- boyfriend, through to more recent times, I could always rely on his mesmeric fiddle playing to stir the soul. He was a fabulous live performer too and I feel privilaged to have seen him a number of times. Now I shall go and play a couple of his records and contemplate that time is moving on for all of us. 'Lift the Lid and Listen' .... ------------- Peter Satisfied user of: Revelation M, PSU1-Enigma, Solo SRGII and lots of CuSat50 |
Posted By: Drewan77
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2016 at 9:39pm
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For me this is one of the saddest losses this year - Dave & the band were my neighbours in the village of Little Hadham for 18 months in my younger teens & I often used to see & hear them rehearsing & composing music when I was out in the garden. Our pet African Grey parrot took quite a dislike to Daves' violin playing & because of that we moved his cage as far to the back of the house as possible (parrot, not DS!) They lived in our former local - 'The Angel' (until a lorry crashed into Daves' room one night & woke us up. The driver was killed but nobody in Fairport were injured). This pub was where my mother used to send me as a 7-8 year old boy to buy her fags & bottles of Mackeson for my dad. Life was so different In the 60s' wasn't it? They rehearsed in the pubs' old skittle alley. I probably owe my love of music to this band - the albums Angel Delight & Full House were written there, I went to my first live gig (free for the Police Benevolent Fund) in the farmers field opposite another village pub and my Dad still has a broken guitar neck that I scavenged from the wrecked music room. That gig & the first Cropredy that I attended in '76 led on to Knebworth and a passion for live music has never left me. ------------- Older than I once was, younger than I'll be ............................. Andrew |
Posted By: Bi-wire
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 1:28pm
A fascinating reminiscence, Andrew. Cherished memories, I'm sure ...  ------------- Peter Satisfied user of: Revelation M, PSU1-Enigma, Solo SRGII and lots of CuSat50 |
Drewan77 wrote:Posted By: McHolmeM
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 2:32pm
The music emanating from that skittle alley would certainly have been significantly better than the sounds I used to hear drifting out of The Fitzharry's Arms when I used to pop into their off-licence as a lad. Always thought Swarb had a great sense of humour with a mischievous twist, was a great raconteur too especially at his solo gigs. The early obit in The Telegraph he would describe as 'greatly exaggerated,' he used to sell signed photocopies of it at his gigs until the newspaper put a stop to it due to copyright infringement.
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Posted By: ICL1P
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 2:56pm
Completely off topic, but... I never crossed the threshold of the Fitzharry's, but there was no live music in Mr Warrick's Arms. ------------- Ifor ===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
Posted By: McHolmeM
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 3:35pm
| I seem to recall there was a formidable landlady at the Mr Warwick who ran the place for years, it's now a private house. The Fitzharris Arms is now a Tesco Express. Sign of the times... |
Posted By: ICL1P
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 3:38pm
Mrs Heavens. I went to her funeral, many years ago now. A pint of Morland's Bitter cost 14p a pint when I first started drinking there. Tim Cairns and George Day of Nevada, Flexamuscle and the Big Boys Blues Band were regulars. ------------- Ifor ===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
Posted By: McHolmeM
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 4:30pm
And the newly arrived lager was half a crown (25p) at The Red Lion the other side of town! On the subject of the Cyrus CD upgrade, I've no idea of my number in the queue but my dealer in Checkendon said three weeks ago that someone behind me was number 44. Expecting to hear any day, I'll let you know.
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Posted By: msphil
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 3:18pm
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I was greatly saddened to hear about the death of Dave Swarbrick. I originally heard him play with the Ian Campbell folk group, and later Martin Carthy, back in the 60s. After this he was absorbed into the Folk Rock boom in the 70s. He was a wonderful violinist and mandolin player who influenced me when I used to play folk music. As a matter of interest, if anyone is interested, I am shortly to post the remaining records that I'm selling on the forum. On the list are a number of records in which he plays. There is one with the Ian Campbell folk group and several others with Martin Carthy. ------------- 'You are, through your soul not your body, a human being.' |