Confluence

Confluence are an instrumental meeting of ‘cello and accordion based in the New Forest. They join traditional music from the UK with beautiful dance tunes from France, Belgium and the Nordic countries, as well as self-penned tunes inspired by those traditions. They love improvising around tunes and finding new ways to interpret them, whether for dancing or for listening.

Gill and Alasdair founded the Eurobal Wessex dance club in the New Forest and Dorset to enable groups to play for French/balfolk dancing, and play frequently at other similar clubs in London, Brighton, Oxford, Reading, Exeter and Bristol. They have played regularly at Chippenham festival and also at Bridport, Swanage and Sidmouth, as well as folk clubs around the south coast.

Gill is a folk 'cellist with her roots in classical music. As well as being half of Confluence folk duo, she also plays with Jigfoot ceilidh band, and with Paul Hutchinson in 'The Maniacs'. Her rhythmic and inventive 'cello playing brings mellow harmonic lines to the Confluence sound. Gill has performed with Dave Townsend, the Mellstock band, Peeping Tom big band, Sarah Matthews and Goran Premberg, amongst others, sharing music from England, France, the Nordic countries and beyond. Her 'cello can be heard on a variety of albums including Geoff Lakeman and Bob and Gill Berry.

Alasdair has roots in classical piano but mostly plays accordion these days, after discovering folk music via Late Junction on the radio! As well as playing for French/Euro dancing as half of Confluence, he also plays with the Southampton-based jazz swing quintet Bad Cat, and is often to be found at various Euro dance events or sessions around the south coast.

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