‘PAUL ARMER & THE DAWN CHORUS’ top bluegrass et al (free adm/donations)
Schedule
Sun Mar 22 2026 at 03:00 pm to 06:00 pm
UTC+00:00Location
The Garibaldi Hotel, Bailiff Street, Northampton, NN13DX | Northampton, EN
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Paul Armer & The Dawn Chorus:Paul Armer & The Dawn Chorus have a rare combination of honest, meaningful songwriting and
virtuosic instrumental talent. Already no stranger to the folk scene, Paul Armer has been making
waves on the bluegrass circuit and wowing audiences up and down the country. The Dawn Chorus
was formed when the four met at one of the UK’s finest traditional bluegrass festivals and went on to
win the scratch-band competition. It was immediately obvious they had something special and
they’ve been working non-stop ever since, writing new music and refining their sound. Paul Armer &
The Dawn Chorus released their debut EP, Heartaches and Mistakes, on November 14th, following it
up with a nationwide tour supporting American, chart-topping, bluegrass/hip-hop fusion band
Gangstagrass. More details are available at https://www.paularmer.com/.
Members
Paul Armer has been steeped in music since the age of 11 after hearing Bruce Springsteen’s E Street
Band. He’s worked diligently, not just on his songwriting and guitar playing, but his entire musical
expertise, having earned a BA (Hons) in Live Music. He began pursuing a solo career in 2015 before
going full-time in 2021, having earned himself a reputation as a performer who can deliver after
multitudinous gigs in just about every situation imaginable. Bluegrass has become Paul’s passion and
he’s been taught by bluegrass legends such as Stash Wyslouch and Jake Workman, as well as having
been the featured artist in the British Bluegrass News (Summer 2023). Paul was voted Best Male Solo
Artist (South West) 2023 by the Listen with Monger music blog and with The Dawn Chorus is looking
to add an ensemble accolade to the list!
Chris Lord is fast becoming known as the UK’s go-to banjo player, after many years dedicated to
playing and fostering bluegrass music in the country. As well as having played in several well-
respected, domestic bluegrass bands, he’s also toured with US artists Gangstagrass, the FOIA Love
band and recently played with chart-topping US musician Alex Warren to a sold-out crowd of 14,000
people at Alexandra Palace. Chris’s banjo playing has been featured on stages throughout the UK,
including at Cambridge Folk Festival, Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Black Deer Festival, the Long Road
Festival, the Green Note and many more, with audiences never failing to be entertained. Chris has
been taught by some of the world’s finest banjo players, including Tony Trischka, Greg Cahill, Tony
Furtado, Ron Block, Alan Munde and Bob Black. Always eager to share his knowledge, he has also
taught at the UK’s prestigious Sore Fingers music school, alongside teaching private lessons and
workshops.
Noel Dashwood is that rare musician who both sounds and appears totally natural. Perhaps that’s
the influence of his 8 years on the South Pacific Island of Rarotonga, a place he sings about on his
acclaimed, self-titled debut album. As well as working on his own music, Noel has featured on
countless other performers’ records and has a towering musical resume. Most recently you may have
seen him playing with UK country legend Hank Wangford, with whom he released a duo album,
though long-time fans will know him from his work with Alden, Patterson and Dashwood, a band that
defies genres and went on to a nationwide tour supporting Show of Hands in 2018. Noel is certainlyone of the highest regarded Dobro players in the country, and while he’s taken tuition with some of
the best Dobro players in the world (Rob Ickes, Sally Van Meter, Billy Cardine, Ivan Rosenberg), his
style is uniquely his own. Noel has played on too many stages to list them all, but highlights include
Glastonbury, Celtic Connections, Cambridge Folk Festival, Broadstairs and Shrewsbury, and he has
taught multiple times at Sore Fingers music school.
Few people can boast either the competence or flexibility of Pete Thomas. A true multi-
instrumentalist, Pete has been playing his main instrument of the bass since his early teens, but also
plays a menagerie of other string instruments, ranging from tenor banjo through to bouzouki.
Alongside his talent for multiple instruments is his talent for multiple genres, with Pete having been a
feature in R&B (PM Warson, Denver Cuss), rock (Silvervoid), English and Irish folk (Worry Dolls,
Megan Henwood), gypsy jazz (The Django Collective, Victoria Bass) and of course, bluegrass (The
Vanguards, The Dawn Chorus). Perhaps his talent is no wonder, what with him being a graduate of
the Newcastle College of Performing Arts, but his more than a decade of professional experience
tells the story equally well. Pete has played with countless bands and after playing with him once,
they always seek him again. His taste and timing are second to none and he elevates any ensemble
he’s part of.
“You can't play bluegrass and not be a master of your instrument and Paul Armer & The
Dawn Chorus come together to create some truly brilliant British bluegrass.”
– Rogue Country
“The possibilities are endless for a group with this much talent, heart, and sto
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Where is it happening?
The Garibaldi Hotel, Bailiff Street, Northampton, NN13DX, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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