FiddleBop plays Gypsy jazz. Re-imagined for the 2020s!

On violin, Spanish guitar, keyboard, and fretless bass. And they sing too, with four voices in harmony. Powys-based FiddleBop’s jazz is sophisticated but not pretentious or stuffy. Is danceable but not rhythmically boring. Has plenty of go-for-it improvised solos but is still tuneful and melodic.

“FiddleBop… transform gypsy jazz stylings into a welcome hamper of swing…” (Buzz Magazine, 2023)

And — like the first Gypsy jazz bands — FiddleBop’s “Gypsy jazz: re-imagined” is highly eclectic. In the 1930s, the Quintette du Hot Club de France (which included legendary Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt and jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli) kicked off the Gypsy jazz thing, creating amazing music based on current and past pop tunes, traditional Gypsy melodies, their own compositions, even some J S Bach. FiddleBop’s repertoire is similarly wide-ranging, featuring Gypsy-flavoured jazz drawn from all of the genre’s century-long history. That’s get-up-and-dance jazz from the 1920s, 1930s chilli-hot swing, and cool post-bop. Plus jazz-flavoured classic pop, folk-jazz, and our own creations. All played and sung with Gypsy zing and passion!

In 2023 FiddleBop played at several festivals including HowTheLightGetsIn at Hay-on-Wye, the 36th International Upton Jazz Festival, Landed Festival, and Brecon Jazz Festival.

Jo Davies is the rhythmic foundation of FiddleBop, she plays Spanish guitar and sings. Dave Favis-Mortlock is on violin and vocals, while Paul Stevens is FiddleBop’s keyboard whiz: rhythmic, blues-soaked, and soulful; Graeme Lamble is FiddleBop’s fretless bassist extraordinaire.

The band started back in summer 2004, when Jo and Dave were camping in west Wales. They tried playing some jazz tunes together, on violin and guitar. It sounded good, so when they returned to Oxfordshire, they kept playing. Along with double bass and lead guitar, FiddleBop (the name was Jo’s idea) gigged successfully for several years. Jo and Dave moved to Powys in 2017, and were joined by Paul and Graeme. The rest, as they say, is history. History with Gypsy zing and passion!

DOORS OPEN 7PM – JAZZ STARTS 8PM – EVENING FINISHES AROUND 10PM – BAR SERVES UNTIL 10.45 – VENUE CLOSES 11.30PM – UNRESERVED SEATING