User:Barry

I am an amateur folk musician living in Sussex, UK. I'm now retired from full-time work in local government, so spend a good deal of time continuing to learn and play. Over the years I've picked up a working knowledge of a number of instruments, though I don't claim any great expertise on any of them. When young, I learned piano and brass instruments (mainly trombone) and subsequently took up guitar, mandolin, flute, fiddle and, more recently, nyckelharpa. With others, I now play mainly English, Irish, and Swedish tunes. I've been in bands playing semi-pro for pubs and functions (weddings, etc.) but now mainly play in a local trio (The Rude Mechanicals) and in ceili bands for barn dances. In my area, there are a good number of informal pub sessions, some of which I like to attend regularly. I'm a habitual collector of instruments and tunes.