Chris 'Yorkie' Bartram
Last updated: 24 February 2009
Artist / Band: Chris 'Yorkie' Bartram
From: Originally from Yorkshire (Did you guess?). Now living on the Powys-Shropshire border.
Style / influences: All sorts of English Traditional and comic folk-songs gleaned from singers who learned them 'at their mothers knee'. Many are songs found in the North of England. But I like all sorts of music - r&b, roots music, modern folk, blues - my most requested song is "Why Don't You Try Me" which I learned from Ry Cooder.
Who's in the band?
Solo voice; sometimes accompanied by Rees Wesson on melodeon. Apart from Solo and Duo songs, I enjoy improvisational music of all sorts and play percussion and backing vocals as a session musician. I believe I am the only rubboard-player in English Traditional music! (Tradition is not static).
Been going since: A long, long time ago; before you were born, probably.
Where they play: Pub sessions; folk clubs and festivals
Favorite local venue: Anywhere with good acoustics and no microphones.
Songs they cover: A very wide range including ancient ballads; comic songs; songs of rural life, love and work.
Recordings available: Tracks on several compilations since 1968. First solo CD, "Yorkie - Traditional Songs from England", released in 2005 is available from
Best moment so far: Too many to list - it's been a long and happy life. Recently? Being praised by Martin Carthy and Mike Hardin at Sidmouth Festival was nice.
Future plans: Currently: getting a band together to play old-timey; skiffley; jazzy; pub fun music with English accents. I shall sing and play washboard/cow-bells/bicycle-horns/etc plus harmonica/tommy-talker/whistle/etc. Watch this space . . .
Favourite other local bands: 'Joe le Taxi' (see below).
Anything else we should know?: I have sung and played percussion in numerous bands (including several of those listed in Rees Wesson's bio) and regularly play in 'One Short Band' with Flos Headford and John Percy; and 'May Contain Nuts' with Flos Headford and Rees Wesson. 'The Jackfield Riverbillies' (Bill Caddick and others) are still alive and kicking but we don't do many gigs these days. I left 'Joe le Taxi' some time ago but they're still the best UK Zydeco band.
Website:
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Teyrnged i'r prifardd John Roderick Ress a hunodd ar 12 Hydref 2009.
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