The answer, of course, is Ed Hopwood! Ed plays diatonic harmonica, nose flute (yes, it does exist) guitar and percussion using shakers, washboard and suitcase bass drum, to name a few. He performs solo and as part of a trio, The Rigmarollers, where he is joined by fellow bandmates Julian Marshal and Ewan Penkey. Playing a mixture of Prohibition-era jazz, blues and jug band, gospel and zydeco, the guys ensure a foot-tapping performance with something to please everybody. London-based Ed, who lives on his aptly named 42-foot barge Muddy Waters, took time out to tell us about his playing, YouTube channel, and album release. Describing his playing style as heavily rhythm-led, he says, “I tend to learn little parts of tunes and build rhythmically around them, and being a drummer as well I find this process most natural for me”. Another influence on Ed’s percussive and groove-led style is his father, Fred Hopwood, a Cajun drummer in one of the UK’s first bands in the genre – R.Cajun & the Zydeco Brothers. Using a mixture of puckering and tongue blocking, his harmonica of choice is a Marine Band Crossover with an Andrew Zajac custom comb. Mid-gig, he has been known to play the washboard using the edge of the harp itself! (Please don’t try this at home.) “The bright sound of the Crossover really seems to suit my acoustic style.” Ed’s YouTube channel The Harmonica Barge started around three years ago and gives free harmonica tutorials in a variety of styles, including blues, bluegrass and even a Cajun drinking song, with an in-depth series which features extended content and tab available for a small fee. The channel was born when Ed, who was teaching a group, London Harps, decided to share his knowledge on a larger scale. “I used to attend the meet up before taking over the running of it for a while, and a lot of the stuff I know was learnt from people there, so I decided to film some lessons and pass it on.”
WHAT DO HARMONICAS, BARGES, WASHBOARDS AND NOSE FLUTES ALL HAVE IN COMMON? Dave ‘Dogfish’ Colclough Editorial Team
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The magazine for HarmonicaUK
