Jamie
Chief Tenor Banjo Officer & Automotive Instrument Tester
After abandoning a promising career as a triangle virtuoso and an unsuccessful bid for rock stardom, Jamie found his true calling in Irish folk music. Following a brief and emotionally challenging encounter with the Irish fiddle, Jamie wisely concluded that life would be easier with a tenor banjo.
Tom
Chief Accordion Agitator & Hazard to Wing Mirrors
Tom has spent most of his life with an accordion strapped to him and shows no signs of stopping. Despite often looking mildly unimpressed by the world, his enthusiastic approach to road positioning has provided the rest of the band with several memorable journeys and an ongoing appreciation for sturdy wing mirrors.
Cal
Master of Maritime Affairs & Terrestrial Confusion
A qualified Master Mariner trusted to navigate ships around the world, Calum remains remarkably capable of getting lost on land. When not writing songs, he can usually be found searching for a dropped capo or explaining why this route is definitely a shortcut. The fact that these shortcuts rarely save any time has never discouraged him
Jamie – Chief Tenor Banjo Officer & Culinary Specialist
After abandoning a promising career as a triangle virtuoso and an unsuccessful bid for rock stardom, Jamie found his true calling in Irish folk music. Following a brief and emotionally challenging encounter with the Irish fiddle, Jamie wisely concluded that life would be easier with a tenor banjo.
A lover of trad tunes, sea shanties and a good harmony, he’s happiest on stage with a pint in hand and a crowd singing along.
Off stage, Jamie serves as the band’s unofficial chef. While his banjo playing is highly regarded, it’s generally accepted that his cooking remains his most impressive talent.
His other notable achievements include collecting an increasingly questionable assortment of tattoos, producing a string of legendary social blunders, and becoming the only known member of the band to accidentally drive over his own banjo. Remarkably, both Jamie and the banjo survived the incident, although neither has been quite the same since.
Whether he’s leading a chorus, cooking for the crew, or accidentally creating another story that will be repeated for years to come, Jamie remains an essential member of the Banjovial crew
Tom – Chief Squeezebox Operative & Patron Saint of Near Misses
Tom has spent most of his life with an accordion strapped to him and, despite numerous opportunities to pursue a quieter hobby, has shown no signs of stopping. A devoted lover of folk music, sea shanties and session tunes, he can usually be found either learning a new tune or insisting everyone else learn it too.
Despite often looking mildly unimpressed by the world around him, Tom somehow attracts more attention than the rest of the band combined. Quite why this happens remains one of folk music’s greatest mysteries, though his particularly loyal following within the gay community has certainly not gone unnoticed.
When he’s not behind the accordion, you’ll usually find him listening to folk music, searching for new tunes, or reminding everyone that there is, in fact, a correct way to play that tune.
He can also occasionally be found behind the wheel, where his unique interpretation of road positioning has provided the rest of the band with several unforgettable journeys and a renewed appreciation for life
Calum – Master of Maritime Affairs & Terrestrial Confusion
Calum’s official responsibilities within the band include singing, songwriting, banjo playing and steering the musical direction of the group. His unofficial responsibilities include dropping his capo at least once per gig and providing the rest of the band with something to laugh about during long journeys.
A qualified Master Mariner, Calum has spent years navigating large ships around the world. Unfortunately, this expertise appears to disappear entirely when travelling by car, and he remains one of the few people capable of getting lost whilst following directions to a place he’s already visited.
Many of Banjovial’s original songs draw inspiration from his years at sea, although some band members maintain that his most memorable maritime achievement remains accidentally falling into Padstow Harbour after an enthusiastic evening ashore.
When he’s not writing songs, collecting instruments, or searching the floor for a dropped capo, Calum can usually be found planning the band’s next adventure and confidently leading everyone in approximately the right direction.