Bellowhead
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Defunct | 2016 (initially) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 2016; reunited in 2020 |
| Headquarters | England, United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, Europe |
Key people | Jon Boden, John Spiers, Benji Kirkpatrick, Rachael McShane, Paul Sartin, Giles Lewin, Sam Sweeney, Pete Flood, Gideon Juckes, Ed Neuhauser, Brendan Kelly, Justin Thurgur, Andy Mellon, Nick Etwell |
| Products | Traditional dance melodies, folk ballads, sea shanties (music albums and live performances) |
Number of employees | 11 (band members) |
Bellowhead is a modern English folk ensemble that was active from 2004 until 2016, before reuniting in 2020. This eleven-member band specialized in performing traditional dance melodies, folk ballads, and sea shanties, all arranged with influences drawn from a variety of musical genres. Their instrumentation included percussion and a brass section consisting of four players, with members collectively handling over 20 different instruments and all providing vocal contributions.
Their initial period of activity concluded with a farewell concert at Oxford Town Hall in May 2016. The group came back together for a show in 2020 and subsequently embarked on tours during 2022 and 2024.
Formation and Burlesque: 2004–2007
Bellowhead originated when Spiers and Boden found themselves stuck in traffic during a tour, prompting them to invite friends to join and form a ten-piece band. The original lineup included Benji Kirkpatrick, Rachael McShane, Paul Sartin, Pete Flood, Brendan Kelly, Justin Thurgur, Andy Mellon, and Giles Lewin. Remarkably, they performed at the first Oxford Folk Festival in April 2004 before any rehearsals had taken place. That same year, they self-released a five-track EP entitled E.P.Onymous, described as "English World Music". In 2006, the addition of Gideon Juckes on tuba coincided with the release of their debut album Burlesque, which drew inspiration from themes such as the Napoleonic Wars, American minstrel shows, and Brazilian sea shanties. By late 2007, Bellowhead had become Artists in Residence at the Southbank Centre, launching their residency with a Christmas Revels event.
Matachin: 2008–2009
The band’s second album Matachin was released in 2008, followed by a live appearance at the Proms that was broadcast on both BBC Four and BBC Radio 3. After Giles Lewin left the group, Sam Sweeney joined to play fiddles and bagpipes. In August 2009, Bellowhead was invited to produce music for an episode celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons.
Hedonism: 2010–2011
In 2010, Ed Neuhauser took over from Gideon Juckes on helicon and sousaphone. October saw the release of their third studio album, Hedonism, recorded at Abbey Road Studios with producer John Leckie. To complement the album’s launch, the band created an ale named "Hedonism," with several members actively participating in its brewing process.
Starting in April 2011, Bellowhead arranged and performed a new version of "Barwick Green", which served as the theme for the The Archers spin-off series Ambridge Extra.
In May 2011, they filmed a live DVD titled Hedonism Live at the O2 Academy in Bournemouth; this recording was released later that November.
Broadside: 2012–2013
In March 2012, Bellowhead recorded their album Broadside at Rockfield Studios, again collaborating with producer John Leckie. The album was released in October 2012 and entered the UK official album charts at number 16 while topping the UK independent album charts. Throughout 2012, they toured extensively across Europe and the UK, continuing their performances into early 2013 across the UK and Benelux region.
October 2013 saw them produce a jingle for the BBC Radio 2 folk programme The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe. Additionally, on December 1st of that year, they released a digital double A-side single featuring Christmas Bells / Jingle Bells.
Tenth Anniversary, Revival, and Disbandment: 2014–2016
In 2014, commemorating a decade of collaboration, the group held two exclusive 'Bel10whead' shows at Bridgewater Hall and Royal Albert Hall. Their album Revival was launched on 30 June 2014 through Island Records. The following year, in July 2015, Bellowhead was the headline act for the inaugural concert at the newly restored Cardigan Castle.
The band announced their dissolution in 2016 after lead singer Jon Boden chose to leave. Their concluding gig was hosted at Oxford Town Hall—the same location where they had their first performance—on 1 May 2016.
Reunions and Sporadic Activity, 2020–Present
After a four-year break, Bellowhead revealed a one-time reunion concert in 2020, streamed on 5 December to honor the tenth anniversary of Hedonism. In November 2022, they regrouped for a nationwide tour celebrating the decade milestone of Broadside. Tragically, before the tour commenced, Paul Sartin passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on 14 September 2022 at age 51. Despite this loss, the band proceeded with the tour, incorporating Faustus’s "Brisk Lad" into several performances as a tribute.
Bellowhead’s lively rendition of "Just as the Tide Was Flowing" was selected as the opening theme for the BBC/Britbox police drama series Beyond Paradise, a spin-off from Death in Paradise, which debuted in 2023. The band also made an appearance performing during the show's 2023 Christmas Special.
In November 2024, Bellowhead embarked on another tour to celebrate their twentieth anniversary since formation.
Band members
- Jon Boden – lead vocals, fiddle, tambourine, shaky egg, thunder tube, kazoo, tin whistle
- John Spiers – melodeons, Anglo concertina, Claviola, kazoo, vocals, tambourine
- Benji Kirkpatrick – guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, tenor banjo, vocals, kazoo
- Rachael McShane – cello, fiddle, kazoo, vocals
- Paul Sartin (2004–2022) – fiddle, oboe, slide whistle, kazoo, vocals
- Giles Lewin (2004–2008) – fiddle, bagpipes
- Sam Sweeney – fiddle, English bagpipes, kazoo, vocals, whistle
- Pete Flood – percussion (including frying pan, glockenspiel, knives and forks, clockwork toys, megaphone scratching, stomp box, coal scuttle, party blowers, broomsticks, ratchet, Casio VL-tone), vocals
- Gideon Juckes (2006–2010) – sousaphone, helicon, tuba
- Ed Neuhauser – sousaphone, helicon, tuba, vocals
- Brendan Kelly – saxophone, bass clarinet, vocals
- Justin Thurgur – trombone, vocals
- Nick Etwell (2020–reassembled) – trumpet
- Andy Mellon – trumpet, vocals
- Sally Hawkins (touring 2022, 2024) – fiddle, oboe, vocals
- Jim Bulger (touring 2022, 2024) – trumpet
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| 2006 | Burlesque
|
— | |
| 2008 | Matachin
|
73 | |
| 2010 | Hedonism
|
57 |
|
| 2012 | Broadside
|
16 |
|
| 2014 | Revival
|
12 |
Live recordings
- Bellowhead Live: The Farewell Tour (2016)
- Reassembled (2021)
Singles
- "New York Girls" (2010)
- "Cold Blows the Wind" (2010)
- "10,000 Miles Away" (2012)
- "Roll the Woodpile Down" (2013)
- "Betsy Baker" (2013)
- "Christmas Bells / Jingle Bells" (2013)
- "Gosport Nancy" (2014)
- "Let Her Run / I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" (2014)
- "Roll Alabama" (2015)
EPs
- E.P.Onymous (2004)
DVD releases
- Live at Shepherds Bush Empire (2009)
- Hedonism Live (November 2011)
- Bellowhead Live: The Farewell Tour (2016)
Additional projects
- Umbrellowhead (2009)
- Pandemonium – The Essential Bellowhead (2015)
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
Throughout their 12-year career, Bellowhead earned eight BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, securing the Best Live Act title on five occasions.
| Year | Entry | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Bellowhead | Best Group | Nominated |
| 2013 | Bellowhead | Best Group | Nominated |
| 2013 | Broadside | Best Album | Won |
| 2012 | Bellowhead | Best Group | Nominated |
| 2012 | Bellowhead | Best Live Act | Nominated |
| 2011 | Bellowhead | Best Group | Won |
| 2011 | Bellowhead | Best Live Act | Won |
| 2011 | Hedonism | Best Album | Nominated |
| 2011 | New York Girls | Best Traditional Track | Nominated |
| 2010 | Bellowhead | Best Group | Nominated |
| 2010 | Bellowhead | Best Live Act | Won |
| 2009 | Bellowhead | Best Group | Nominated |
| 2009 | Bellowhead | Best Live Act | Nominated |
| 2009 | Fakenham Fair | Best Traditional Track | Nominated |
| 2008 | Bellowhead | Best Group | Nominated |
| 2008 | Bellowhead | Best Live Act | Won |
| 2007 | Bellowhead | Best Group | Won |
| 2007 | Bellowhead | Best Live Act | Won |
| 2006 | Bellowhead | Best Group | Nominated |
| 2006 | Bellowhead | Best Live Act | Nominated |
| 2005 | Bellowhead | Best Group | Nominated |
| 2005 | Bellowhead | Best Live Act | Won |