PETE COE

Cheshire born singer, songwriter, melodeon, banjo, dulcimer and bouzouki player, bandleader, arranger, broadcaster, dance caller, teacher, step dancer, entrepreneur, folk club organiser, record label boss, sallow-faced wit, raconteur and all-round good guy, Pete Coe in many ways represents the backbone of the modem folk revival. He's been a key member of numerous significant outfits across three decades, including the much-loved duo with his then wife Chris, the wondrous dance outfit New Victory Band, folk 'supergroup' Bandoggs and political trailblazers Red Shift. Yet he's probably best known for his richly varied solo work, stretching across the whole range of the folk umbrella from the English tradition to dance tunes of many shapes and sizes to his own devastatingly potent original songs.

Pete & Chris Coe - the clarity of their interpretations of traditional songs, Chris Coe's stirring harmonies and some inventive arrangements quickly established them at the very forefront of the folk club scene. Their impressive debut album Open The Door And Let Us In (1972) confirmed their brightness and originality and included other examples of Pete's enterprise, completely re-writing an old broadside about a Cheshire long-distance runner, Joseph Baker.

By the end of the '70s the Coes became an integral part of the movement to put English dance music back on the map in defiance of the Celtic music beginning to dominate the scene. They joined the colourful New Victory Band with John and Suzy Adams, Roger and Helen Watson and lan and Linda Wordsworth, playing polkas, waltzes, jigs and reels, as well as singing the occasional music hall song. Their classic album One More Dance And Then was recently reissued with bonus tracks by Pete. In 1978 Pete they also joined forces with two of the leading solo revival singers of the day Nic Jones and Tony Rose. Based in the north with Jones in Essex and Rose in the west country made rehearsals difficult and the band was shortlived, but Bandoggs made one decent album and are remembered with great affection by all those who saw them, particularly for their outstanding version of Loudon Wainwright III's Swimming Song.

The Coes split - but remained good friends - and Pete embarked on his solo career, developing his songwriting with powerful material like It's A Mean Old Scene, The Alimony Run and Rolling Down The Ryburn. His Mean Old Scene album in 1985 also saw the emergence of his own label Backshift. In the late '80s he formed Red Shift, underlining his reputation as a political writer with songs like Sold Down The River Again and Waves Of Tory pointedly reflecting the Thatcher era.

He has since not only continued as a fine solo performer, but an energetic activist for the scene as well, founding Ryburn 3 Step, running folk clubs, dances and workshops in the Ripponden/Halifax area, while also teaching music and dancing at schools. He's still one of the most committed, most versatile, most important folk artists in Britain.