Siren and Strings
A beautiful mix of laid-back chill, with a unique edge of passion and spirit, Siren and Strings are an acoustic covers band performing an eclectic selection of songs, and this mix is key (no pun intended!) to their set. Yes, there are a few obvious acoustic choices but many songs come from completely different genres, often extracting a fabulous melody from a song that started life drowned in a sea of amplified guitars and drums. With Neill's superb guitar playing and vocal harmonies and Abigail's distinctive emotion-loaded vocals the talents combine to create something different, fresh and engaging. Armed with just a guitar and two voices their takes on well-known tracks reveal that simplicity can be stunning - and prove that a really good song will shine even when stripped back to basics. and when James Squire (sax/clarinet) joins us ... well it takes it to aonther level adding that extra pizzazz!
Ian Peak ... forever missed!
We will miss him so much as a band
member, but just as much as a friend and a one in a million crazy force of
nature ... he was an amazing person on every front.
Ian
leaves a massive hole in all of our hearts, but we are very pleased
that James Squire (who was a former student of Ian's many moons ago) is
taking the sax and clarinet baton on and keeping Ian's spirit alive
with us as he joins us as often as he can now.
As a famous song once said “Love Is All
Around” the epitome of
Abigail Nelson, Neill Davison, James Squire
How it all began:
As with probably quite a few bands, Siren and Strings came about by accident. Abigail had promised her vocal talents for a charity gig and had asked Neill to provide a backing band. As the event grew closer, the backing band ... well ... backed out, and Neill suggested an acoustic gig instead… and so Siren and Strings was born as a duo. They soon realised that, far from being a second-best option, the acoustic duo format really worked. Sharing lead vocals allows them to suit the right voice to the right song with subtle harmonies added to good effect. From just a handful of songs to cover a 30 minute set for a charity gig, their repertoire has grown to a full 2 hour plus set list. Over the years the little musical gang has included Tony Bennison adding some 2nd guitar, James Squire bringing sax/clarinet/flutew, and Jose Williamson hitting an extra spot with percussion.
Sadly Tony has decided not
to be part of this little musical endeavour anymore and his last gig
with us was Aug 2025 in Sedbergh. I want to thank him for all his
beautiful twiddly guitar flourishes he gave us and also Jose became so
busy with all his other amazing bands he can rarely join us anymore. I
will miss them both so much.
As well as Siren & Strings gigs all members can be seen with their other bands.
Other musical ventures:
Neill also plays in several other bands, doing his “thang” electrically on guitar with "Souls of Strangers" and "Sleepkick". Neill and Tony are also in "Music Monkeys" with the talented vocals of Adam their lead singer. Neill akso plays bass occassionally with Joe Gallagher (in fact he will work with anyone who asks him to join in really) it has been said of him amongst his close friends that he is a bit of a “musical tart” …the “Martini” boy of music: any time, any place, any where … if there is a guitar there he could well just pick it up and start playing! Abi & Neill also set up "The Awesome Ouch" collaborating with some of the musicians from "The Reel Jiggy" for a one off band to do a set at the Lindley Festival 2010 - immense fun was had by all on that one.
Abigail has also been seen rocking it up while completing a year
long "dep" as the lead singer of 9 piece soul covers band "The
Zealots" and she has in the past been known to do a bit of Irish
lilting with "The Reel Jiggy". Over the years she has also fronted many
other bands including "Rock Salt" and "Medusa". Currently she is also in "Electric Blue Drsgonflies" working with a guitarist writing orginal songs.
James & Jose are in many other bands too including "Mirage", "Crazy Knights" & "Aligator Gumbo".
Call it serendipity, call it fate - but the accidental coming together of a guitarist/bassist who is usually plugged into a Marshall, and a singer who was more often seen as a bit of "Rock chick", has created something beautiful with "powerful vocals and sublime guitar playing". Sometimes...it's better with the volume turned down...