The DerryAirs - The Story So Far.............
It took years of preparatory chats, but finally in December 2018 the stars were aligned, and the DerryAirs quartet was born. To our joy, and relief, we discovered we had a promising range of voices - a first and a second tenor, a baritone and a bass. For one of our first rehearsals we visited Jonathan Lewsey, operatic bass, musical director and singing teacher in south-east Cornwall, to check out whether he thought we might have a future. And miracle of miracles we were up and running.
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Sea shanties have been a big focus for us from the beginning, but the DerryAirs songbook is steadily expanding to include folk songs and pop songs. We have a growing enthusiasm to tell some of the stories of our adopted homeland, Cornwall, through song. The harmonies we seek need equal amounts of perspiration and inspiration. We are putting in the perspiration, and the inspiration is all around us, in the sea, the sky, the rain and the wind.
One of our earliest gigs was across the water in Brittany in Plouguerneau, home of our Breton twinning friends, which persuaded us early on to add French songs to our repertoire…and who knows, where it may lead next…
We are loving rehearsing for you, and we hope you enjoy listening to some of our songs, and let’s hope we have a chance to be together soon.
John.......
Our flexible voice:baritone tenor or bass'ish! A past life flying the skies of Cornwall as a paramedic in the AirAmbulance - now singing his way around Cornwall with ..... The DerryAirs! Mr John Pollard....
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Kev D.......
Bass and very fond of his bottom D, a refugee from the Downderry pantomime stage and last seen as Long John Silver, he sometimes sings alone, often in the shower, he’s Mr Kevin Done...
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Kev W......
The baby of the group, first tenor, musician extraordinaire, rhythm guitarist in the Downderry based band,he also enjoys the challenge of
singing different genre including tenor opera Mr Kevin Weaver....
Bill......
A conscript from St Germans via Merseyside and Whitsand Harmony. Enticed out of retirement as the group's oldest and shortest member!
The group's deep, sub- basement bass. He plays guitar & mandolin and keeps strict time on the Bodhran. Mr Bill Woods....
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Tom
A Bristolian,Baritone Tom andsoprano wife Vickymoved to Downderry dulooking forward toboating, gardeningand just enjoying theCornish air. Tomsteered towards singing and shanties following a visit to the Mevagissey shanty festival and now looks forward to sharing the DerryAirs repertoire all over Cornwall and anywhere that values this historic music scene. Mr Tom O'Reilly........
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Bob
Bristol born & bred, moved to Cornwall 35 years ago and not going back! Sang in several choirs before finding a home with the guys in Downderry. A keen DIYer and a family man. Can sing from top tenor to baritone and enjoys the challenge of harmonising. Mr Rob Papworth.....
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