Geckoes - an illustrated history
Geckoes evolved from the famous weekly English music sessions which began at Eynsham in the late 1970s, and through an involvement with Oxford's lively border team, Rogue Morris. What started as an ad hoc collection of musicians eventually coalesced into a regular band which by 1986 (we think!) had adopted the name Geckoes.
The first official Geckoes line-up consisted of Caroline Ritson (fiddle), Dave Parry (melodeon), Jon Moore (electric guitar) and Andy Cheyne (bass), with Keith Chandler (caller and percussion). The band's first festival gig was the Bracknell Folk Festival in 1988.
Andy Turner (concertina) was added to the Geckoes line-up in 1991, and the band's debut recording, Geckoblaster, was released the following year, in time for Geckoes' first booking at the Sidmouth Folk Festival.
Geckoes naked! publicity photo c1995
By this time, Jon Moore was increasingly busy with other bands such as Edward 2 and Tiger Moth, and while he continued to play when available, a number of other musicians joined us on an occasional basis: chiefly keyboard players Heather Horsley, Andy Lavery and John Neilsen. John Keston-Hole took up regular electric guitar duties from 1993-1998, and this incarnation of the band was captured on our first CD release, Art Gecko. It was around this time that the band adopted the name Chameleons for local dances where a smaller line-up was more appropriate than the full five-piece band.
Anchor Gardens Ceilidh, Sidmouth, 1995
Art Gecko recording session, 1995
Art Gecko launch party, 1995
Geckoes with Big Skink Brass (Jeff Hawkins, Tim Hill, Rob Payne), Towersey, 1995
On John's departure guitar duties were taken up by Tom Miller, who also added keyboards to the band's musical palette. Tom played on the third Geckoes CD The Red Horse.
Geckoes publicity photo, 2002
Keith Chandler, who had been an integral part of the band, retired from calling in 1999, since when we have worked with a variety of callers, notably Sheena Masson. Keith has rejoined us on percussion from time to time, particularly at Oxfolk gigs.
Towersey Festival, with Sheena Masson calling, 2011
Around the time of our 25th anniversary in 2011, Dave Parry was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He was too ill to attend our official 25th anniversary party, but was able to perform at that year's Towersey festival - when the band was augmented by original member Jon Moore - and at Haddenham and the Lewes Folk Day.
25th anniversary party, 2011
Towersey Festival, 2011
Dave died in 2012 leaving a very big hole to fill. Guardian Obituary of Dave Parry.
Melodeon player Matt Quinn, at that point only recently graduated from the Newcastle Traditional Music degree, joined the band in August 2012, making his first appearance at the Broadstairs Folk Festival that year.
Broadstairs Festival, 2012
Oxfolk, February 2020
Tom Miller withdrew from live performance in 2023, and his place has now been taken by Heather Horsley.
Contact
For all enquiries please contact geckoesband@gmail.com