The band members are:
Ken Tonge
Ken’s first paid gig was in the Duke of Wellington pub in Heywood in 1969. He’s been playing a while! Since then he has gone on to play solo and in bands in folk clubs, theatres, festivals, pubs, clubs, village halls and anywhere else that would have him over the intervening years. Since moving to the North East from Cambridgeshire in the eighties, he has predominantly played with the group Backshift and has been a resident at The Davy Lamp Folk Club.
Ken has made a number of individual and band CDs but really gets his charge from playing live music.
He currently plays with Hop, Skiffle and Jump but can be seen from time to time dressing up as a 1914 miner and singing with The Cloth Cap Band.
Ken plays guitar, banjo, ukulele, cittern, bazouki and mandolin and is the lead vocalist in the skiffle band. He introduces the songs and tells the story of skiffle with an enthusiasm and passion for the genre. He’s also totally disrespectful to the rest of the band and quite funny!
Fred Tonge
At the other end of the age scale is Fred. Fred started playing ukulele with the band occasionally when he was just 9 but is now a full time member. He currently provides the rhythm for the band with his guitar, which he does with a confidence and aplomb which belies his years. His main function, however, is to reduce the average age of the band and to make all the grannies go “Ahhh!”
Alison Brydon
The band is lucky to have its own dancer in the form of Alison Brydon. Alison’s dance pedigree goes back many years and she has been performing since she was 6. She is a dance teacher and is proficient in ballet, tap and musical theatre. She currently teaches an Appalachian clog dancing side. In the band she dances predominantly clog style, but adapts her moves to the nature of the songs we sing. Her eye catching steps and percussive sounds lend an extra dimension to the overall show.
Alison Tonge
In the true spirit of skiffle music, Alison doesn’t have a music background but has joined the band as percussionist playing the washboard. As well as providing a good backing rhythm, her main claim to fame is that she looks great in a 50’s frock!
Lex Hall
Lex is an incredibly gifted guitarist who was a founder member of the band, helping out his grandad in a fix! As he developed over the years he nailed the accompaniments of Lonnie Donegan’s guitarist, Denny Wright, and made child’s play of the amazing Danny Cedrone break in ‘Rock Around the Clock’. He can’t always get to play with us nowadays but lifts the sound whenever he’s available.
Jaene Fitzgerald
Jaene is one of the vocalists in the band. She has been involved in many singing projects over the years, including theatre and radio performances (COAL, Brassed Off, The Word).
She has an interest in local traditional songs, choral singing (Beamish Choir) and, of course, 50’s skiffle music. She fits in perfectly with the authentic and informative style of Hop, Skiffle and Jump and makes a fantastic contribution to our evocation of the era.
Jaene is a strong and confident singer with a lovely sense of humour who loves nothing better than engaging with our audiences. Jaene will stop at nothing to get a chance to sing but sometimes has to hold back to go to work in primary education!
Dave Ryan
Dave has a background in all kinds of music but is best known currently for his excellent ukulele playing, enjoyed at numerous venues in the North East. Dave brings his infectious good humour to the band but, more importantly, the ability to get an amazing sound out of a piece of string, a broom shank and a box. Dave has got to be one of the best tea chest bass players out there!
Lara Barnes
With many years experience on the folk scene in the North East, Lara brings some wonderful fiddle playing to the band. She is a relaxed and clever instrumentalist who adds so much to every song we do. Her contribution lifts the overall output of the skiffle music we enjoy so much.
Jack Tonge
Jack is an experienced guitarist who has played in a variety of music styles. He was lead guitarist with Indi band Longsleeves, playing in an outrageously confident manner and never without a broad grin on his face. He alternates between bass guitar and acoustic rhythm guitar in Hop, Skiffle and Jump and drives the pace along. His music taste is wide and varied, but as one of our guitarists he’s adopted exactly the right style for playing 50s music.
