Two of my brothers played with the orchestras. They had a violin, banjo, guitars, um, accordion sometimes. – Jeanne Guillas

“And we played to, this really strange sort of audience where, you know, people would come in, order a sandwich, sit down and eat for 10 minutes and then get up and leave.” – Michael Freeman

“This guy, besides singing cowboy songs and sticking a cigarette in the wires of his guitar, he shot cigarettes out of people’s mouths. He took objects out of their hands with a bullwhip.” – Gerry Taylor

I think I remember my manager at the time and I, in the basement in tears at one point, because it was so stressful. But as soon as she opened her mouth, when she sang the first note, it was like the room went silent and it was all worth it. – Lisa Wilby

I remember the first time I came here, when I already knew I had the job but I’d never been here before and I saw The Rowdyman. And I was just blown away by the music and by the place. – Leslie Cumming