CHRIS SHERBURN & DENNY BARTLEY

Chris Sherburn Chris plays concertina as though he was born with one in his hands... TAPLAS MAGAZINE

Chris Sherburn grew up surrounded by folk music of all kinds. His parents, close friends of the Watersons and the Carthys, encouraged his musical abilities first on the accordion and then on the concertina. His parent’s involvement with the Goole Folk Club meant that his home was a regular haunt for passing folk singers and musicians from all over the Britain.

In the early 90s he teamed up with Denny Bartley. Between them they created the sound that would evolve into Last Night’s Fun and the craik that would have audiences returning to show after show. Their first album entitled Last Night’s Fun formed the blue print for a band that has excited and enthused Folk Clubs, Arts Centres, Halls and Festivals across Europe and North America.

He has taught for Folkworks in Newcastle, the Fleadh Ceol Erin and at the foremost concertina event ‘Concertinas at Whitney’.

He has played on many albums including "Anglo International", a definitive collection of world-class concertina players, and BBC Radio 2 Award winners Rachel Unthank and the Winterset's release "Cruel Sister". As well as his work with Last Night's Fun he also plays live with BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee Bella Hardy and appears on her debut album.

Denny Bartley Distinctive vocals combine the anger of Shane McGowan with the lyrical quality of Michael Stipe... BUZZ UK

Denny is a founder member of Last Night's Fun and was born in a remote village close enough to the traditional phrases of Limerick to feel drawn to the natural inheritance of age-old slides, slow airs, slip jigs and wild reels.

His distinctive personalised style of vocals and powerful open-tuned rhythm guitar evolved from an early introduction to classical guitar, contemporary dance and influences such as Joni Mitchell and Paco De Lucia. This and meeting and playing with bouzouki player Cyril O'Donaghue of Co. Clare, established his fate.

After exploring the tones of the mandolin and banjo Denny returned to singing with guitar accompaniment until he joined forces with Chris, which, in his words, "gave my guitar a whole new language."

The adjectives found amongst reviews to describe Denny's voice include 'breathtaking', 'mesmeric' and 'hypnotic', while his infectious, syncopated rhythms were the driving force and the backbone of the band.

After 15 years without a break, the birth of Denny's second daughter in 2007 led to his decision to take a break from Last Night's Fun and move back to his native Ireland.