Mick Ryan and Pete Harris: May 28th 2004
Mick Ryan tells me that he sang traditional songs for years, but then he found the urge to write his own about ten years ago. On hearing him sing it is evident how much he has absorbed from traditional folk song. He moves easily from Just as the Tide was Flowing and The Plains of Waterloo to Ryan's songs such as The leaving time taken from the folk musical‘The Voyage’, a woman facing emigration to America; and The Wrong Side of the World, the words of a tolpuddle martyr deported to Tasmania, a song from the play ‘Tolpuddle Man’ written by Mick Ryan.
Mick is the principle singer, but Pete Harris is an accompaniest of character, where the guitar blends beautifully with the voice. Pete has a life-long interest in jazz, and his feel for rhythm comes through in every phrase.
In the second half from time to time Pete lay aside his guitar. This gave their singing a forceful focus as in The Poppies.
Mick said afterwards, “I write the words as they come, and sing in my own voice. There is no putting on an act – except when we are singing in the music-hall style!”
We haven’t yet found and official website for Mick Ryan and Pete Harris, but you can find plenty more about them, including contact details at the Fo'c'sle Folk Club site