The Swing Rioters

Cotswold Punk Folk


Band Members: The core team


John Meadows: Guitar

Gerd Busker: Bass & Vocals

John Madge: Drums

Richard Whittern:  Whistles, Accordion, Vocals

Paul Townsend:   Bass, Banjo, Mandolin, 12 String Guitar

Tetiana Hnilytska:  Violin

Robin Burton: Melodeon & Vocals


How many of us actually turn up depends on the space available and how many of us can make it....


 Occasional players and members of the collective:


Graham Clark: Concertina, Melodeon, Guitar, Fiddle

Lizzie Davey Jones:  Fiddle

Robin Lewis: Banjo, Harmonica, Vocals

Aly Rainey: Fiddle

Honey Bee:  Fiddle

Danny Hammond: Guitar 

Russell Ward: Concertina, Harmonica 

Nimue Brown:  Vocals & Viola

Susie Roberts:  Vocals

Dave Tweedale:  Bass

James Whitehouse:  Melodeon, Nyckelharpa

Paul Townsend:  Bass, Harmonica

Sam Davey Jones:  Percussion


Band website:   www.swingrioters.com





We take classic, mainly English, traditional folk songs and "punk them up".  We also take more modern songs and "folk them up".  We aim to give everyone something that they will recognise...


We are loud.   


The original Swing Riots were a series of disturbances in the rural counties of England in 1830. Increasing mechanisation was threatening the livelihoods and agricultural workers. The workers responded with protest and, in some cases, violent actions including the burning of hay ricks and the smashing of threshing machines.


Expect to have a good time….


Here we are live at the Churchdown Club on March 2nd 2024:   Live at the Churchdown Club (youtube.com)

Some Of Our Songs

Plastic Jesus

This song is such fun.   You really do have to sing along.  Made famous when Paul Newman sang it in "Cool Hand Luke".  Listen here:  Stream PlasticJesus_MASTER_090524 by Robin Burton | Listen online for free on SoundCloud

Key Workers

Do you remember how back during Covid, certain ordinary people came to be seen as key workers?   Hedge fund managers we realised we could do without but nurses were essential.   This song is written for us by our good friend Gerry Ffrench.

Bankrobber

A classic English folk song from the Clash.   Always knew this was a folk song in disguise.

Swing Rioters Lament

An absolute classic from our founder, Gary Brooks.   In the early 19th century technology was destroying people' jobs.  200 years later.... nothing has changed.   Listen here:  SwingRioters_MASTER_090524 by Robin Burton (soundcloud.com)


Wild Rover

A great English folk song originally written in 1680 in Watchet, Somerset.  300 years later it has been voted the "Best Irish Song" of all time.   Great songs don't stay in one place.... they travel...

Thieves Song

This is a great song by Gavin Davenport.   About how we deride beggars and refugees yet respect the thieves in pin striped suits....   It uses a 13th century children's rhyme as the foundation of it's chorus

Down by the Water

A song from the Decembrists.   We have always liked this one.   Reckon you will too.

Mary Don't You Weep

Aretha Franklin never played it like this...   Just love the Gospel feel to this song... it really rolls along.

Scarborough Fair

Paul Simon came to England and met Martin Carthy who taught him this English folk song.   This is our take on it.  We're rather pleased with it.

Cheltenham Girls

Let's be clear, this party never happened.   It it did, then I wasn't there.   If I was there, then I followed all the rules....

Donkey Riding

We love a good hearty sea shanty that you can stamp and sing along to.  Especially this one.

Upcoming Gigs





Gloucester Folk Trail:  Folk of Gloucester 8 p.m. Saturday 15th February

Gloucester Brewery:  9 p.m. 1st March

Upton Folk Festival:  Kings Head Upton  7:30 p.m. 3rd May

Bristol real Ale and Shanty Festival, Freemason's Hall, Park Street, Bristol.   10th May

Tewkesbury Live Festival, Britannia Inn Tewkesbury, 2.30 July 27th

Weston Folk and Shanty Festival 2nd and 3rd August

Other Dates Yet TBC








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