This site is dedicated to all those inspired by folk and traditional fiddle musics from around the world.

My biog.

I originally learnt the basics of the violin when I was a boy but because, in my wisdom, at the tender age of fourteen, I saw myself more of a rock-star than a classical musician, I stopped playing violin in favour of teaching myself guitar. Well....school, work, marriage and a family rather side-stepped my fortunes as a rock god and it was many years later before I was re-introduced to live music by a good friend involved in the Preston Morris scene. At that time I didn't even own an instrument. That's around twelve years ago now.

Encouraged by the fun others were obviously having playing traditional music, I bought a fiddle purely on impulse at an auction, just to see if I could coax a tune out of it! As you might imagine it took me six months hard labour to be brave enough to take it out to a session and another six before I dared play a solo! ‘The sound of strangling cats’ is a phrase that comes to mind! Well, since then the 'devil’s instrument’ has taken hold of me. I didn’t meet him at midnight at Oak’s Bar* or anything but I’ve had so much fun with it since and met so many interesting and friendly people through playing, it has changed my life completely. I eventually took the plunge, a few years ago now and completed a course at Newcastle University to find out all about the music and how the fiddle really should be played.

What I’m trying to do here in East Lancashire is generate interest among people, young and old, to learn to play the indigenous music that was once the wallpaper in this part of the world. There is a lack of opportunity for people to learn traditional music, song and dance of the region and using this website and my efforts in teaching and playing the fiddle, I hope to rectify that imbalance. If I can enthuse people just half as much as I have been then we're definitely back on track.

Please click on the menu on the left for more information about my projects or contact me directly.

Julian Taylor

* The Ribble Valley equivalent of 'the crossroads'!