Jiggit

      Welcome to Jiggit…

As a band we got together in 2006 with the sole intention of passing on our love of traditional tunes and songs, performing in a style that we hope will make you smile and tap your feet!
We have all known each other for many years and have performed together in various line-ups, but this is the first time we have joined together as a band.

Jiggit evolved from the band Tan Tethera, which has been playing since the mid 1980,s. Consisting of Dave, Kath and Heather Grabham, this group, bringing their arrangements of tight harmonies and soaring whistle/guitar tune sets, have been performing at festivals and clubs since then, and still make occasional appearances when time allows! They produced an album ‘A Days Labour’ in 1998, and also appear on two compilation albums with other Kent based artists; ‘Keys of Canterbury’ and ‘Apples, Cherries, Hops and Women’.

Dave Grabham (Guitars/Vocals) and Kath Grabham (vocals) had been playing mostly traditional music, (plus the odd blues/Beatles/music hall/ anything we liked the sound of!) since the early 1970s. When their daughter Heather Grabham joined and started performing with them, Tan Tethera was formed. (The name comes from 2 and 3 in sheep counting!) Heathers fantastic whistle/flute/recorder playing plus her superb vocal talents brought her to the attention of Flemish Folk/Rock band Kadril, with whom she featured on the album ‘De Andere Kust’, and toured extensively for two years. Not content with that, she also formed ‘The Grabham Spink band’, a partnership with talented songwriter Iain Spink. Writing many of their own songs, they produced an album ‘Fables and Labels’ in 2005. Heather can currently also be seen in her latest band, Belgium based ‘Faran Flad’. Their debut album ‘Maiden Voyage’ has just been released on the acclaimed Belgian ‘Wild Boar’ label (2010).

Roy Gill: (Fiddle/Vocals) has his musical roots stretching back to the Skiffle era, (he was a washboard player then!) but for many years has become better known for his delightful fiddle playing. His speciality of improvising around tunes is his signature style. For many years Roy was a member of ‘Distracted Times’, a traditional folk band. It was with this band that Roy developed his expertise as a barn dance / ceilidh caller, a skill he still uses today when Jiggit perform for dances.
Roy was for many years involved with Headcorn Morris Dancers, both as a musician and a dancer, and Jiggit are proud to include many Morris tunes in their repertoire, although we try to avoid the dancing these days!

Sean Couchman: (melodeon/ mandola / vocals) Born and bred in the County of Sussex, Sean also has a strong Morris background both as a dancer and musician. Renowned for his strong unaccompanied singing and superb melodeon playing, his background includes being a member of the ‘Catsfield Steamers’ band, and for many years was joined by Brian ‘Trooper’ Hawes performing mainly traditional English tunes. Sean’s powerful playing drives the Jiggit tune sets, and is very ably joined by …….

‘FOX’: (melodeon / vocals) That’s all we have ever known him as! We suspect he is Castagnari’s love child, hence his natural prowess at the instrument! He and Sean play beautiful, driving arrangements together.

And that is Jiggit….(20 in sheep counting, so plenty of room for expansion !!)