User:Phil Headford

Flos is now a welcome sight at any musicians' pub session, thanks to his wide repertoire, quickness to learn and his inventive approach to tune and song accompaniment. He has been playing fiddle since his early thirties, starting with Morris dance and progressing to English country dance music through years of attending musicians' sessions in Gloucestershire and at Folk Festivals throughout the UK. Though not blessed with a fine singing voice, his songs are often welcome interludes, because of his propensity for choosing comic items. He currently plays with the Old Swan Band (and has done for 25 years or more), works with John Percy (melodeon) and Yorkie Bartram (percussion) in the Shropshire-based trio One Short, and was a founder-member of outfits as diverse as The Mellstock Band and Edward the Second and the Red-Hot Polkas (later known as E2). On Shreds and Patches, Flos does most of the graphics, edits the reviews and sets them, and provides a few reviews of his own. Part of this work involves him in designing the front cover, which for many issues now has carried the notation for a tune, often a recently written tune. He uses a computer notation system which allows non-readers of music to listen through tune books and learn new tunes. It was formalised by Chris Walshaw, and is called ABC. It allows you to use free (or, if you choose, quite cheap) software to type the notes of tunes into computer files, send them by email, print sheet music from them, have the tunes played to you, and more.