Jaywalkers

Jaywalkers are Michael Giverin (Mandolin, Guitar and Vocals) and Jay Bradberry (Fiddle, Guitar and Vocals).

Jaywalkers began about years ago when Mike began mandolin lessons with Stuart Williams – Jay's fiddle teacher. It was during a year or so of increasing involvement in the Helsby music scene that we grew more familiar with each other’s playing during jam sessions and local festival performances held by the House of Plank, ACCLAIM and various other organisations.

About 12 months later they had begun to play with each other on a more regular basis, most commonly in the form of scratch bands assembled by Bryn Williams (aka Sir Johnny Plank) for various “interesting” gigs in the area. Then at the arrival of May 2007 came the news that Michael had gained a half hour spot at UK Bluegrass Festival, Coastline, and that he wanted Michael and Jay with banjo player John Breese, to perform as a band later named Jaywalkers. It was their first dabbling in the art of arranging, preparing tunes and songs and their first ever performance as a band!

After that, Jaywalkers were off ! Arranging, perfecting and performing at every opportunity. Absorbing all the inspiration they could from the close musician friends around us and attending events like the Sore Fingers Week held each Easter. The passing of 2007 and entrance to 2008 brought more opportunities to play and develop our material as a duo including a performance with additional players at the Brindley Theatre in Runcorn, Cheshire and the honour of playing during the ceremony and reception of Stuart and Jo Williams when they married.

During a summer of rehearsing a repertoire continuously increasing in size, Mike suggested that Jaywalkers enter the BBC Young Folk Awards; 2008 being the year they both qualified in the 15 – 20 yr old age restrictions. The 10th September brought the exciting news that Jaywalkers had been selected by the YFA to continue to the Semi Finals held in Stratford upon Avon in October! After a fantastic weekend of workshops and sessions, as well as the audition concert evening itself; we were pleased to be informed that we had made it through to the final stage of the competition.

Visit Jaywalkers on their website