What do harmonicas, barges, washboards and nose flutes all have in common?

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 WHAT DO Muddy Waters, took time out to tell us about his playing, YouTube channel, and HARMONICAS, album release. Describing his playing style as heavily BARGES, rhythm-led, he says, “I tend to learn little parts of tunes and build WASHBOARDS AND NOSE FLUTES ALL 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, HAVE IN COMMON? Fred Hopwood, a Cajun drummer in one of the Dave ‘Dogfish’ UK’s first bands in the genre – R.Cajun & the Zydeco Brothers. Colclough Using a mixture of puckering and tongue Editorial Team 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.”

I asked about the zydeco and bluegrass videos available: “Zydeco music sits really well on the harmonica as it’s tuned similarly to the squeezebox used in the style, especially when you incorporate split octaves”. Regarding bluegrass (a style not usually associated with the tin sandwich), he says, “I went to bluegrass sessions initially, singing and playing the guitar, but took my harp along after a while”.

After slight initial resistance, it is now becoming more accepted within the genre. “It’s all about the etiquette, which can be a minefield, and I have a blaggers’ guide to bluegrass uploaded to give harmonica players a rough guide”. During lockdown, The Rigmarollers recorded their debut album Mr Crump Don’t Like It, and it was released in December last year, a review of which can be found on the reviews page of this issue. It’s available on Bandcamp, and alongside gigging and festival bookings, the band are planning a second album, this one of all-original songs in 2022. Ed has also been involved in a project, Harp for Health, developed from a parallel scheme called Singing for Breathing, where in the former Ed has been a guest tutor leading a workshop teaching harmonica to people with respiratory diseases such as COPD. In fact, Brunel University made a study of the scheme’s effectiveness in relieving breathing difficulties and the data is overwhelmingly positive. “These sessions have been a lifeline for many people who’ve been isolated over lockdown and they are singing the praises of the harmonica and the health benefits it’s giving them.” Well done Ed, we applaud you.

For more information, check out these links:

Rigmarollers album: https://therigmarollers.bandcamp.com/album/ mr-crump-dont-like-it

YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/

UCyjg4YuxoZeBtWSdS1414HQ Link to In-depth Lessons and store: https://harmonicabarge-shop.sellfy.store/in-depthlessons/