Blowzabella

Artist

Blowzabella

About

Blowzabella is a folk band formed in Whitechapel, London, UK in 1978 by Bill O'Toole who reconstructed the English bagpipe. Being instrument makers they brought back the extinct English bagpipes and Hurdy-Gurdy back into UK music as well as French and Macedonian dances at their ceilidhs. They have lasted over 40 years and there are over 100 French folk dance clubs in the UK at present. The name of the band was found by founding member Dave Armitage and comes from a tune found by the band in Wright's “Complete Collection of Celebrated Country Dancing” (late 17th century). Their first break through album was in summer 1982 and No 4 in the Melody Maker Folk Albums Chart UK. They later composed their own music which is influenced by English and European traditional folk music and song. Many of their tunes are “standards” in the modern British/European folk repertoire and are played by people all over the world. Paul James (who joined in 1981) took over managing the band from late 1982 and the line-up changed subsequently over the years. Jon Swayne is the only original member.

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Top Tracks

Most popular songs on Last.fm

1

The Origin of the World

Blowzabella

2

Horizonto

Blowzabella

3

Shave The Monkey / Boys Of The Mill

Blowzabella

4

To The Edges And Robin's

Blowzabella

5

Spaghetti Panic

Blowzabella

6

The New Road To Alston And Lottie's

Blowzabella

7

oliver's and two beers

Blowzabella

8

Jan Mijne Man / Go Mauve

Blowzabella

9

New Pneus

Blowzabella

10

In Continental Mood / The Old Queen / Flatworld

Blowzabella

Setlists

Recent live performances · data from Setlist.fm

Setlist data provided by Setlist.fm

August 3, 2025

Terrein Dikkebusstraat

Dranouter, West Flanders, Belgium

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August 25, 2018

West Midlands Showground

Shrewsbury, England, United Kingdom

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July 6, 2018

Heinepark

Rudolstadt, Thuringia, Germany

  • 1.

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July 6, 2018

Heinepark

Rudolstadt, Thuringia, Germany

  • 1.

View on Setlist.fm →


July 5, 2018

Heinepark

Rudolstadt, Thuringia, Germany

View on Setlist.fm →

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Some of Blowzabella's most popular tracks include The Origin of the World, Horizonto, Shave The Monkey / Boys Of The Mill, To The Edges And Robin's, Spaghetti Panic. Listen to these songs and discover more from their extensive catalog.

Blowzabella is a folk band formed in Whitechapel, London, UK in 1978 by Bill O'Toole who reconstructed the English bagpipe. Being instrument makers they brought back the extinct English bagpipes and H... Read the full biography on this page.

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