Dave Brady

[Alan Day]

I was sorry to read just now on another site about the sad death of Dave Brady Concertina Player of the Band "Swan Arcade".

Dave was a real character and will be sadly missed.

Al

[Dave Higham]

Sad news Al. Swan Arcade was one of my favourite groups of the 70's and 80's.

For those who don't know, Dave with his wife Heather and Jim Boyes formed one of the best acapella groups on the British folk scene. He had a stentorian voice and was also a very funny man in between songs. He was a one-handed concertina player, having lost an arm in a motorcycle accident. He held one end of the instrument between his knees and played the other.

Although he hasn't been active on the folk scene for some years I'm sure he'll be sadly missed

[Roger Digby]

I’ve pondered for a few days whether to add to Alan‘s announcement. What I have to say is not about the concertina, but this site regularly recognises that the concertina, like any instrument, has a place in the wider community; currently we have discussions on the Beatles and Charlie Chaplin and that is how it should be.

Dave Brady was much, much more than a (one armed!) duet concertina player. He was a person for whom the phrase ‘larger than life’ could have been invented. Any time spent in his company would quickly generate intelligent and provocative ideas.

His voice cut through like a chain-saw! However astonished you might be on first hearing him the quality was instantly shattering. He could sing big ballads with real compulsion - a very rare quality! Then he’d sing songs from Sting, Elvis Costello, Ray Davis without any change in approach. Just great 100% singing, based on a true understanding that traditional music knows no boundaries except integrity.

After leaving the ‘Folk World’ he worked as a roadie for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. A one-armed roadie!! He got the job on the strength of his personality and I have heard that he introduced quite a number of the Orchestra to Traditional Music.

He was also a tireless campaigner for Nuclear Disarmament and used to record the traffic in and out of Sellafield. I’ve heard that he was on first name terms with the police who occasionally had to arrest him and that he entertained them with his songs while he spent a few hours in the cells! If this is true it fits in entirely with the great personality that I was fortunate enough to know.

About 25 years ago we were in the same hotel at the Sidmouth Festival. He offered me a lift in his car. Of course he talked non-stop all the time with his usual passion, but his car was not adapted to a one-armed driver so he had to take his hand off the wheel to change gear!!!! ‘Larger than life’ indeed; a fantastic singer and a magnificent person.

I don’t know how easy it is to get hold of Swan Arcade recordings these days, but they are well worth hearing.

Best wishes

Roger

[Dave Higham]

A Swan Arcade double album "Round Again" is available from Musicinscotland (Google it) in Europe and from Elderly Instruments in the US. It's a reissue of "Together Forever" and "Diving for Pearls" and contains many of the songs Roger mentions.