Peter Knight's Gigspanner

Since his departure from folk-rock pioneers Steeleye Span at the end of 2013, legendary fiddle player Peter Knight (also of Feast of Fiddles)has turned his full attention to his trio Gigspanner (who have been touring since 2010), and in the process has firmly established their burgeoning reputation as one of the most innovative acts on the folk/roots scene.

A glance at the band's Guestbook page offers an insight into the emotional impact their performances exert..."spellbinding" "sublime" "blown away" "inspired" and "magical" are familar themes.

Hailed by Songlines as "another milestone in folk's rebirth of cool" there is however far more to Gigspanner than meets the eye, and to categorise these virtuoso performers purely as folk musicians would be to significantly undersell them, and to deny audiences the full scope of their musical embrace.

As expected, traditional music forms the bedrock of the trio's repertoire, but the approach is what sets it apart...leaving enough room with the arrangements to spread and stretch the music in the moment. In Peter's own words "there is nothing more exciting than finding yourself lost in a new layer of inspiring and spontaneous music". But taking it even further, subliminal, multicultural influences are fed into the mix, flirting audaciously with French, Cajun, Cuban and even African, traditions. As the late Sir Terry Pratchett poetically observed "Peter Knight can spin the world on his Bow".

Ultimately the music Gigspanner creates confounds any attempts to label it, and it is that intriguing, indefinable ingredient that inspires audiences of all leanings, bringing them back for more. As a trio they have successfully amalgamated the diverse sum of their parts, and have honed and polished a brand that is uniquely theirs.

May 2015 heralded the release of their new studio album Layers of Ages, which sees Gigspanner blowing the dust from a collection of well-worn traditional songs and tunes, dismantled, reconsidered and put together again to reveal moments of originality and staggering beauty. It has been played on several BBC folk shows, including Radio 2's Mark Radcliffe show and Radio 3's 'World on 3', and has received a host of glowing reviews in the music press. The Telegraph has added it to their 'Best Albums of 2015' list.