Programme Six

Billy Pigg and Friends

In the mid 1960s Irish singer and folksong collector Paddy Tunney made a visit to Newcastle and Northumberland. In the course of that short trip, he made a point of visiting the great Northumbrian piper Billy Pigg. On this recording, made by Tony Wilson, we hear Billy Pigg playing solo and accompanied by fiddle player Archie Bartram. There are also contributions form Paddy Tunney, singing and step dancing, and Paddy's brother Joe on button accordeon. The visit is described in the book Where Songs do Thunder in Paddy Tunney's usual florid style. Never a man to use one word where a dozen might do, Tunney never let the truth get between himself and a good story. Whilst the printed description does not quite match up with the truth as evinced from these recordings, what is clearly true is that all concerned spent a thoroughly entertaining evening, reveling in one another's company. This enjoyment is reflected in the playing, the singing, the sound of Paddy's feet as he steps to the music and the frequent whoops and yells which at times threaten to overtake the pipes, fiddle and accordeon.



Programme Six - Playlist

1. Bill Charlton's Fancy - Billy Pigg
2. Unknown Air/Boulavogue - Billy Pigg
3. Coolin - Billy Pigg
4. Crookit Bawbee/Last of the Twins - Billy Pigg/Archie Bartram
5. Dargai - Billy Pigg
6. Skye Crofters - Billy Pigg/Archie Bartram
7. Easter Snow - paddy Tunney
8. Flowers of the Forest - Billy Pigg/Archie Bartram
9. Green Fields of Americay - Paddy Tunney
10. Gypsies Lullaby/King of the Pipers/The Hawk - Billy Pigg
11. Holey Ha'penny - Billy Pigg
12. J.B.Milne - Billy Pigg/Archie Bartram
13. John Anderson My Jo - Billy Pigg/Archie Bartram
14. Last of the Twins - Billy Pigg
15. Piper's Weird - Billy Pigg
16. Polka - Billy Pigg/Archie Bartram
17. Rambling Boys of Pleasure - Paddy Tunney
18. Robin Thompson's Smithy - Billy Pigg/Archie Bartram
19. Rollicking Boys of Tandaragee - Paddy & Joe Tunney
20. Rowan Tree - Billy Pigg/Archie Bartram
21. Talk about Tom Clogh - Billy Pigg
22. Spailpin na Rua - Billy Pigg
23. Swallow's tail - Billy Pigg
24. Unknown Jig - Billy Pigg
25. Unknown Reels - Joe Tunney
26. Unknown Reels - Joe Tunney
27. Blackthorn Stick/Irish Washerwoman/One Horned Sheep - Billy Pigg/Archie Bartram/Paddy Tunny
28. Wild Hills of Wannies - Billy Pigg