THE RAWMARSH MASHERS

The Rawmarsh Mashers is what happens when two guys in their mid fifties get together to make music. Too old for MTV, and too young for a reformation tour, they got together in bars and back bedrooms to recreate the music from their youth. Richard (he’s the one with the hat and no hair), claims to do the lead vocals and laughingly, rhythm guitar. He put his guitar down at the very early age of twenty five to take on what his Dad called adult responsibilities. Twenty five years later, duster in hand he cleaned away the years of dust and rust that made a sad site of his guitar, so as to help his son learn to play the instrument. But five years later, neither of his sons now pick up their guitars, instead, Richard has over, the long years (according to those who have suffered at the Rotherham Rugby Club, The Black Bull, The Rig Dyke, The Monkwood and his Wife) homed his performing skills to produce a sound that only he is capable of. It has become known as the sound of The Mashers. Loud, lively and enthusiastic. And on lead guitar, the Master of the duo, Myke (he’s the one with the hair). Myke has played with so many pro and semi pro bands that not even a Myspace page is big enough to contain all the names. His music has ranged from progressive rock to folk. Myke adds the colour to a Mashers performance, clever with the strings and nifty on his toes when moved to dance. He’s a clever boy. Not only is he currently working as a Masher but also accompanies several local open mic artists. He is also a writer, and news of his folk based musical getting an airing in 2008 should be watched for. The third member of The Mashers is of course Murial the music stand. A really essential part of a Mashers performance. Please See Blog.

The reason The Mashers came together was quite simply to inject THE FUN back into the Folk Music scene, where rightly or wrongly the general impression held is of serious men with beards either singing heavy work songs or clever people demonstrating their undoubted skill upon their instruments, but so clever no one else can join in. The Mashers make no apologies for being lively, entertaining, or for singing songs that people can join in with. A raucous version of The Spinners, some have said. The Rawmarsh Mashers are a LIVE duo. You won’t find any backing tracks being used at a Rawmarsh Mashers gig. We are firm believers in keeping music live in all senses of the words. There is no doubt that The Mashers are different, described by one Land Lord as the "antidote" to the all too common back tracked vocal artist. The Mashers like to take their music into places not normally asssociated with Folk Music, and try where ever possible to open up new venues. This is getting harder as more and more pubs put up the shutters and close down, and the profits of traditional pubs drop dramatically because of the price of beer and the smoking ban. Made worse by the 2008 budget. (Sorry about the politcal comment there). Over 2007 The Rawmarsh Mashers have grown in popularity on the local Folk and Open Mic scene, where their short sets are always well received. They have been played on Rotherfm, (Rotherham’s very own Local Radio Station), an event that made a legend of Hairy Mary, that apparently well known Rawmarsh inhabitant, to certain male members of the community. Later in the year they have made many appearances at pub venues throughout the Rotherham area, following successful appearances at the Rotherham Open Arts Festival and the Treeton Arts Festival. In fact, they would love to spread their wings more in 2008 and find new audiences to play to at venues outside of their Rotherham base. They are always willing to discuss any opportunity for an appearance, be it a Festival, Folk Club, Pub or Club.

Play Gigs? We certainly do!!!! In fact The Rawmarsh Mashers thrive upon performing live. Our performances are always billed as being "Alive and Kicking" (with a sick note to prove it. We've enjoyed so many special moments in our short time together, but there is nothing better than the moment one realises that others are enjoying the songs as much as we love singing them.

YES, you can blame this lot........... The Spinners - The Fivepenny Piece - The Houghton Weavers - Jon Isherwood - Shep Wooley - Fred Wedlock - Bearnard Wrigley, Tom Paxton, Noel Murphy, Matt McGinn, Watt Nichol, Jake Thackray, Peter Paul and Mary, Richard Digance, The Kingston Trio, The Yetties, The Dubliners, Tommy Maken and The Clancy Brothers, Neil Diamond, Roy Orbison, Lonnie Donigan,The Corries, Pete Seeger, Christy Moore, Ewan MacColl, The Oldham Tinkers, Eric Bogle, The Leesiders, Cyril Tawney, The Weavers, The Strawbs and Bonzo Dog Band etc, etc, etc even Rambling Sid!!! Yes, the mix of styles truely reflects what can be expected from a Mashers Gig.

We' don't need much, just a small 500w PA system, that we invested in.

WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THE RAWMARSH MASHERS "A BREATH OF FRESH AIR ON THE FOLK SCENE" Local Folk Club Organiser still reeling from a short burst of Masher material. ""THEY DON’T SOUND IRISH" A very perceptive member of the audience. "I LAUGHED ALL NIGHT" A Folk Music critic on realising that The Mashers were for real. "THAT WAS DIFFERENT. WE REALLY ENJOYED THAT" Someone claiming to be a music lover, we have our doubts. "THEY’RE REALLY QUITE GOOD" A Surprised Land Lord. "IT MADE ME CRY" Member of the audience on hearing The Mashers arrangement of The Patriot Game. "WE SOLD A LOT OF BEER" A Land Lord. "TALENTED!!???" A sober member of the audience. "IF THERE WAS THREE MORE OF THEM, THEY WOULD ALMOST SOUND LIKE THE DUBLINERS" An optimistic fan of The Mashers. "HAVE THEY FINISHED?" A Drunk in the corner of Pub. "ARE THESE PEOPLE FOR REAL? A PINT OF BEST AND A WHISKEY PLEASE" A local at the bar. "YOU DON’T EXPECT ME TO SIT HERE ALL NIGHT LISTENING TO THIS?" to Husband (THREE HOURS LATER) to us "COME ON LET ME SING A SONG WITH YOU!!" A new Masher fan having enjoyed her five pints and bottle of whiskey. "THEY REALLY ARE NOT AS PRETTY AS I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE" Someone who was really trying to be a fan of The Mashers. "I LIKE YOUR STUFF. BUT YOU WONT GET ANY GIGS WITHOUT A 7K SOUND SYTEM!! DO YOU WANT AN AGENT?" Someone living on another Planet!! "THOSE ARE GREAT SONGS. HAVE YOU GOT A CD?" Yet another drunk and Wife. "CAN I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPHS? THEY’RE FOR MY DAD" Eight year old child of a Drunk. "AT LEAST THEY SEEM TO BE HAVING FUN" A not so happy leather jacketed motor bike rider at the Bar - who did not like folk music. "I BET THAT GEAR IS HEAVY. I HOPE YOU THINK IT WAS WORTH IT. I SUPPOSE YOU’RE GOING CLUBBING NOW. YOU ROCKERS ARE ALL THE SAME." Land Lord on paying us at end of evening. "WHO ARE THEY?" Sound Techs at Rotherham Open Arts Festival. "BRILLIANT!!!! NEVER HAS SO MUCH EFFORT AND ENTHUSIASM BEEN PUT INTO A PERFORMANCE FOR SO FEW PEOPLE. I LOVE THE MASHERS"Roy Blackam. Rotherham’s Mr Memory Man, and writer of the people, who booked us for the Rotherham Open Arts Festival. "THEY WERE ALMOST BETTER THAN THE RUGBY" Over celebrating England supporter, following the France World Cup Semi - Final. "WELCOME ON STAGE THE ROPETON SLASHERS" Over enthusiastic Folk Club MC. "WHERE ARE THEY?" Festival Organiser who had not checked on Mashers time availablity. "THE RAWMARSH MASHERS, SURELY YOU’VE HEARD OF THEM. WORLD FAMOUS IN ROTHERHAM." The Smartdriving.co.uk Web Site "THAT WAS GOOD LADS. WE COULDN’T HEAR A WORD AT THE BACK." A punter with a hearing problem. "REALLY ENJOYED THAT. WELL DONE. WHAT YOU NEED IS A LIGHT SHOW" Helpful advice from a Land Lord.