Pete’s Blog

• A PANDEMIC TALE January 26, 2022
   THE YOUNG MAN'S FIRST VISIT TO GOOSE FAIRThe Young Man’s First Visit To Goose Fair is a story I have been telling at every opportunity over the past couple of years for reasons which will become apparent shortly. It is in my Nottinghamshire Folk Tales book (published by The History Press 2012)  Take 5 minutes […]
• MY FIRST VENTURE INTO SCOTLAND November 17, 2021
   A while ago I read an article about the early days of the folk scene in Scotland (in Living Tradition #137). It made me think about my first visit to Scottish clubs which happened a bit later but included many of the clubs mentioned. I gave up my job and went professional on the folk […]
• MY BACK CATALOGUE part 29 October 4, 2021
   A look back at recordings I made over my career. Part 27  OYSTER GIRLS & HOVELLING BOYS  Steel Carpet Music MATS027  CD 2008 Folk Songs from Kent Volume 3Pete Castle, Bob Kenward, Andy Turner, Marian Button, The Millen Family and Dave Mason  I said in the previous post that Poor Old Horse was my last CD. […]
• MY BACK CATALOGUE part 28 October 4, 2021
   A look back at recordings I made over my career. Part 28  POOR OLD HORSE  Steel Carpet Music MATS026  CD 2008Pete Castle with Sarah Matthews: fiddle, viola, vocals; Doug Eunson: melodeon, vocals; Edmund Hunt: whistles, Northumbrian pipes; Sue Castle: vocals. There had been a five year gap since my previous recordings (for a whole variety of reasons) […]
• MY BACK CATALOGUE part 27 October 4, 2021
   A look back at recordings I made over my career. Part 25  TAPPING AT THE BLIND   Steel Carpet Music MATS025  CD 2003Pete Castle, storytelling, vocals, guitar, mandolin; with Lucy Castle, fiddle; Lorin Halsall, upright bass; Rob Barber, drums on the Bear Dance.   Recorded at Sigma Studios, Burton. This was the other half of The Outlandish Knight […]
• MY BACK CATALOGUE part 26 October 4, 2021
   A look back at recordings I made over my career. Part 26  THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT  Steel Carpet Music  MATS024  CD 2003Mainly songs with two stories.Pete Castle, vocal, guitar, zongora; Lucy Castle, fiddle; Bing Lyle, accordion; Lorin Halsall, upright bass; Rob Barber, drums.   Recorded at Sigma Studios, Burton and Courtfield Studios, Ashford. Although I sold them separately […]
• MY BACK CATALOGUE part 25 October 4, 2021
   A look back at recordings I made over my career. Part 25  THE JENNY & THE FRAME & THE MULE  Steel Carpet Music MATS023  CD 2000The story of Richard Arkwright and Cromford Mill told in song and story.Pete Castle with Lucy Castle, fiddle; Derrick Hale, concertina; Jon Hodkin, tuba; Andy Leith and Steve Hough chorus vocals; […]
• MY BACK CATALOGUE part 24 October 4, 2021
    A look back at recordings I made over my career. Part 24  MEARCSTAPA  Steel Carpet Music  MATS022  CD 1999 Pete Castle, with Lucy Castle, fiddle and viola; Bing Lyle, accordion; Trevor James, whistles and pipes (my A-team of accompanists!) plus Jon Hodkin, tuba; Frank Stubbs, flugelhorn; Rod Masters snare drum. *STAR BILLING FOR THIS ONE!* If I was forced […]
• MY BACK CATALOGUE part 23 October 4, 2021
   A look back at recordings I made over my career. Part 23  apples cherries hops and women:  Folk songs from Kent vol 2 Steel Carpet Music  MATS019 cassette 1999  and then CDPete Castle, Andy Turner, Bob Kenward, Tan Tethera, Maria Cunningham and Ian Lawther. The title comes from Charles Dickens: “Everybody knows Kent, sir, apples, […]
• MY BACK CATALOGUE part 22 October 4, 2021
   A look back at recordings I made over my career. Part 22  GIRLS & BOYS COME OUT TO PLAY  Steel Carpet Music MATS016  folk songs for younger childrenTHE GOLDEN VANITEE  Steel Carpet Music MATS017    Folk songs for older childrenWith Sue Castle, vocals; and Lucy Castle, fiddle.  Both on cassette 1997 and then on CDI’ll treat these two albums […]