This new solo album reflects both his integrity and his stylish accomplishment of a variety of folk styles encompassing the old and the new. Pete has a strong predilection for Hampshire/Sussex material, gained through many years of living in Portsmouth (he's a long-standing MC at that town's Railway Folk Club). So there's a version of Just As The Tide Was A-Flowing culled from the Hammond & Gardiner Marrowbones collection, alongside Old Adam which comes from the Copper Family Songbook, and some wonderful songs either directly inspired by the Hampshire landscape - Kipling's Run Of The Downs (set to Morris tunes by Peter Bellamy), Sarah Morgan's View The Land - or with a strong local connection offering a perspective on historical events of local significance (like Ken Stephens' moving Hampshire Rose, which still possesses the power to bring a noisy pub to silence). En route, Pete also gives us a thought-provoking new rendition of the much-requested singaround classic Home, Lads, Home (now Overseas In Flanders), a rousing tribute to the mumming tradition (Rise Up, Jock) and Dave Walters' unnervingly catchy English-country setting of William Blake's Little Vagabond, amongst too many gems to mention! Pete's a really fine, distinctive singer, as well as a more than respectable guitar player, and this well-contrasted release certainly does him proud, though credit must also be given to the spirited chorus contributions (who else but the ONT "house team" of Messrs. Webber, Fentiman and Collins, with Pete's wife Trish). Instrumentally, Dave Webber's melodeon on Sydney Carter's George Fox is perfectly balanced, but the fiddle on Rout Of The Blues (courtesy of "Stacey") sounds a little recessed at first (or maybe I've gotten too used to the Dransfields!). This beautiful and superbly realised release may contain some well-worn titles, but its only predictability lies in its excellence; another triumph for ONT! David Kidman, Traditional Music Maker

"...on several tracks, such as 'The Run of the Downs' and 'Rout of the Blues' his style is reminiscent of early Nic Jones."

Musically it is highly commendable with good arrangements and some very pleasing guitar accompaniment from Pete. His voice is splendid and the production excellent. The material he has chosen is varied, ranging from Kipling and Fox Smith to Mr Fox (remember Mr Fox?) and several traditional songs for good measure. As part of his sleeve notes Pete acknowledges finding' Pretty Saro' on the '70s collection 'The Electric Muse - The Story of Folk into Rock' and attributes these records as taking him from his 'Beatles and contemporary folk style into a love of English Traditional music' For me his musical style appears rooted in this period and on several tracks, such as 'The Run of the Downs' and 'Rout of the Blues' his style is reminiscent of early Nic Jones. Of the 15 tracks 6 are unaccompanied with choruses provided by Trish Watkinson, Johnny Collins, Anni Fentiman and Dave Webber, who also produced this CD. A very pleasant CD from a very gentle singer. Brian Cope, Folk London

"...the standout cut just has to be the final (solo) one: viz. Mike Harding's "Christmas Eve 1914". Watkinson does real justice to a brilliant song' a song that is up there with John McCutcheon's magnum opus."

I recently asked several North Lincolnshire folkies if they knew who Pete Watkinson was. The name drew a blank with them all. Which is a shame, because he is a significant talent. However, were one to ask the same question of equivalent folkies south of a line drawn from the Severn to the Thames estuaries, I fancy one would get a far higher recognition factor. For Pete arrived on the South Coast scene shortly after I departed in the mid Seventies, and has since built a very solid reputation from his base at the Railway Folk Club in Pompey. How to describe the voice? Well, it is not a big voice, but it is a distinctive one. It is a voice that is blessed with the cutting edge that so many of our voices -mine included -lack. There is nothing bland about it at all. This might seem an extravagant comparison, but try and imagine Lonnie Donegan singing traditional song in his more sotto voce mode! And trust me, there are few higher compliments. Add to this Pete has a clear intelligence in his interpretation of lyrics and an accomplished guitar style. And he has a "backing chorus" to KILL for! Did I mention "big" voices? Well they don't come bigger than here, for alongside Pete's wife Trish, he has none other than Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman, and if they weren't enough, he has the magnificent Johnny Collins. The 59 minutes playing time consist of 15 tracks which are a mixture of the traditional and contemporary. The almost common theme is the link to Hampshire and the surrounding area. The best offerings are generally those that feature the Heavenly Chorus e.g. "Home Lads, Home", but the standout cut just has to be the final (solo) one: viz. Mike Harding's "Christmas Eve 1914". Watkinson does real justice to a brilliant song' a song that is up there with John McCutcheon's magnum opus. Living Tradition, Dai Woosnam

"Sydney Carter's 'George Fox' which is well accompanied showing Nic Jones/Martin Carthy influences in the guitar work, 'Just as the Tide Was A Flowing' where the nicely syncopated guitar work takes on a Mike Raven-ish sound..."

There are a number of good old favourites and blasts from the past on this album. For example, 'Rise Up Jock', nice to hear that again after so long though I felt Pete is singing near the top of his range in the chosen key so sounds a little strained in parts. Sydney Carter's 'George Fox' which is well accompanied showing Nic Jones/Martin Carthy influences in the guitar work, 'Just as the Tide Was A Flowing' where the nicely syncopated guitar work takes on a Mike Raven-ish sound and golden oldie 'Rout of the Blues'. Pete shows his prowess as an unaccompanied singer particularly well on Sarah Morgan's 'View the Land' and 'Pretty Saro' with a tune by Shirley Collins; but things really come together when he sings William Blake's 'Little Vagabond' with a tune set by 'our' ex-local lad Dave Walters helped by a chorus line up that will probably be the envy of any traditional style singer which includes Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman, Johnny Collins and Pete's wife, Trish Watkinson. Similarly, C. Fox-Smith's (yes that incredible poetess yet again!) 'Home Lads Home' with tune and 'extra' chorus by Sarah Morgan (Pete's obviously a fan!) is sung with sensitivity and with the chorus effectively far back in the mix this, although the longest track by far, is a cracker. Derek Giff' Folk Northwest

Pete has been singing in Folk Clubs, either solo or in various duo's and groups, since 1973. He is a much respected M.C. formerly at the Railway Folk Club in Portsmouth where he was been a resident for many of the last 20 years. His roots are firmly in English Traditional song, from the close harmony groups ‘Long Felt Want’ and ‘The Portsmouth Shanty Men’ and then ‘Cantoris’ , contributing throughout the range but most distinctively in the warm harmonies at the high end.

A fine singer, head hunted for the cast of the musical drama ‘A Day's Work’ by Fieldwork Productions , he then continued with them in the cast of ‘The Voyage’ .

His voice can also be heard on , ‘ Mutiny . 1797 - Songs from the Spithead & Nore Mutinies’ , and in the chorus on Dave Webber & Anni Fentiman's ‘Bonnet and Shawl’ and ‘Constant Lovers’ albums, on Johnny Collins' ‘A Pedlar of Songs’ and 'Now and Then' , and Bob Walser’s ‘When Our Ship Comes Home’. Johnny Collins also included Pete on the ‘Shanties and Songs of the Sea’ album where he provided a contrast by leading the softer and more reflective songs.

Gigs

For bookings ring (01329) 834416 or email him on pjntrish@waitrose.com

Updated 3rd April 2006