Singer, songwriter, melodeon, banjo, dulcimer and bouzouki player, bandleader, arranger, broadcaster, dance caller, teacher, step dancer, entrepreneur, folk club organiser, record label boss, sallow-faced wit, raconteur and all-round good guy, Pete Coe in many ways represents the backbone of the modem folk revival. He's been a key member of numerous significant outfits across three decades, including the much-loved duo with his then wife Chris, the wondrous dance outfit New Victory Band, folk 'supergroup' Bandoggs and political trailblazers Red Shift.

Yet he's probably best known for his richly varied solo work, stretching across the whole range of the folk umbrella from the English tradition to dance tunes of many shapes and sizes to his own devastatingly potent original songs. Born in Cheshire, he first started performing at the Songwainers Club while at Cheltenham College and early on was drawn to the more obscure traditional folk songs.

Pete embarked on his solo career, developing his songwriting with powerful material like It's A Mean Old Scene, The Alimony Run and Rolling Down The Ryburn. His Mean Old Scene album in 1985 also saw the emergence of his own label Backshift. In the late '80s he formed Red Shift, underlining his reputation as a political writer with songs like Sold Down The River Again and Waves Of Tory pointedly reflecting the Thatcher era.

He has since not only continued as a fine solo performer, but an energetic activist for the scene as well, founding Ryburn 3 Step, running folk clubs, dances and workshops in the Ripponden/Halifax area, while also teaching music and dancing at schools. He's still one of the most committed, most versatile, most important folk artists in Britain.

Pete will be working with his wife Sue who will be doing dance workshops for young people, we are still working on that programme.