Dave "moisten my reed" Hiett  -  The Welsh Weavil

Official lyricist (for example click here).

"Where are the poles?"
The dreaded question one does not want to ask at dusk, when erecting George’s large and over elaborate frame tent on the festival camp site.
The answer was “somewhere else”.
Over the years George has taught me many things, but it was at the Bracknell modern jazz festival that it really happened for me. We were sipping our festival pints of Wadworths, with the tent billowing and dangling from the spreading bows of an old oak like a Bedouin encampment. It was then that I realised, in a hazy glow, that I had learnt to improvise.

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Jan "I'm too loud" Hiett  -  The Primeval Weavil

Tuba player and Entomological Advisor (did you spot the anatomically correct bent antennae?).
My other tuba is a sousaphone or sometimes a trombone.

I was a late starter with musical instruments, and am a lover of anything base!!

Main skills - butty construction and late-night driving - essential to any band. (I think you're under-valuing yourself there Jan. You're forgetting bottle-washing, ironing and rhubarb-growing - also essential to any band.)

Steve "where's my capo?" Barr  - The Medieval Weavil

Heavily influenced by wizard of The New Methodist Hymn Book, 50's dance-band leader and piano man Norman Barr. Norman was criticized for jazzing up hymns in an irreverent style. I hope I have inherited my dad's feeling for music and rhythm with his desire to get people dancing.

After childhood piano lessons and leading the teenage band The Grab, I gave up music for almost twenty years. I picked it up again in the 90's to join The Eunice Bobcats and Zabumba. I am not fussy, I will play music with anyone who will play with me.

Sarah "am I driving?" Barr   -  The Granny Weavil

I bought an alto sax on spec.
I sounded truly dreadful.

End of story? Almost, but fortunately not ....
although forced by my family to play into a wardrobe, street-band Zabumba tolerated my early attempts.

The Weavils evolved as Zabumba faded, and I bought a tenor.
I feel very fortunate to have such good friends and musicians to play with.

I have now been promoted from wardrobe to cellar.

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