Rack and Ruin Acoustic is a four piece acoustic version of The Band of Rack and Ruin. .
We also offer an acoustic band for folk club appearances and Irish nights – Bisiker, Radley and Berry.
Forthcoming gigs
Rack and Ruin – Combe Community Hub – Fri 22 Dec 2023
Mick Bisiker’s Rack and Ruin will playing a Christmas Party at the Combe Community Hub in Oxfordshire (OX29 8NA).
We were there earlier in the year as an acoustic band and had a great time playing 2 sets of songs and tunes to a very enthusiastic sold out audience.
It was such a good night that the organisers have asked us back for their Christmas party event. We are coming back on friday 22 December 2023 with the full band (including drummer Alex!).
This event is now sold out.
Recent gigs
Next Level Folk Club Stourbridge – Nov 2023
The Next Level Folk Club is new – so new in fact that we were the second guest act ever to play at the club which meets in the impresssive surroundings of the ballroom at the Talbot Hotel, Stourbridge. We were invited by Christopher Crompton who runs the club and made us very welcome.
We played to a very enthusiastic audience who seemed to enjoy very much what we played. Once again Johan Beavis Berry was our featured fiddle player and it seems he made a very positive impression.
It’s a great club – well worth a visit especially as their next guest night in February will feature our great friend Lauren South. That should be a good night!
Mick Bisiker’s Rack and Ruin Acoustic – Nuneaton Folk Club Oct 2023
We supported Benji Kirkpatrick (Bellowhead, Faustus) at the Nuneaton Folk Club where we were playing as a trio without fiddle. It was a good night with more CDs sold and also with the entertaining John Mosedale on the bill too. Photo – John B Smith.
Bisiker, Radley and Berry – Tump Folk Club – Oct 2023
The Humber Hotel in Coventry is the home of the Tump Folk Club. Mick has played the Tump Club in the past but not as a guest act. This time he was back with the new Bisiker, Radley and Berry – Mick Bisiker (voice, guitar and mandola), Deb Bisiker sax, voice and whistles) Johan Beavis Berry (fiddle) and Chris Radley (voice, bass). Thanks to everyone who came along and gave us some support.
The performance had a positive review by the club which ended with this quote:
“There were a lot of very good comments from the audience about how much they enjoyed this new line-up of a Mick Bisiker band!”
Thanks to John B Smith for the photo.
Stockton Folk Club – Sept 2023
It was great to be back at Stockton Folk Club – there is always a friendly welcoming atmosphere there. A review of our performance from the club said:
“Bisiker, Radley, Berry, a new group on the scene, were amazing with a tremendous sound from their mix of instruments.
Mick and Deb Bisiker along with Chris Radley, are no strangers to the club but the introduction of a “young” folk enthusiast Johan Berry, playing superb fiddle, was a highlight of the evening.”
Here is a song from a rehearsal with Jen Martin on fiddle in late 2021. At the time it was only Jen’s third time playing with us.
Here’s a video of our previous line up
The video features a previous line up of Rack and Ruin Acoustic – Mick Bisker on acoustic guitar, mandola, bazouki and vocals, Nigel Ward on fiddle and mandolin, Chris Radley on bass and vocals, Deb Gomme on saxophones, vocals, whistles and acoustic guitar.
As musicians we draw on an established folk tradition but deliver the music with an energy, enthusiasm and good humour! The band members all have many years experience performing lively celtic, roots, folk rock music and specialise in bringing up-tempo jigs and reels and original contemporary folk rock songs to new as well as established audiences.
We are based in Warwickshire and play throughout the Midlands.
We often play parties in houses or (in the summer time) back gardens where people love our music but don’t have room for the whole band with drums – so Rack and Ruin Acoustic is perfect.
You can see more videos on the video page.
If you’d like to book us for an acoustic gig or a house party just get in touch with Mick on 07592 348817.
Previous acoustic gigs have included appearances at: the Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham; Banbury Folk Club; the Nuneaton Folk Club; Warwick Folk Club; CV Folk 2nd Sunday at the Albany Theatre, Coventry; Willow and Tool Folk Parlour; Long Itchington; The Wurzel Bush Folk Club, Rugby; Lighthorne Folk Club; Leamington Folk Club; Tump Folk Club, Coventry; Stockton Folk Club and the Woodman Folk Club, Kingswinford – if you came along to any of those thanks very much for your support .
We are keen to play other new venues and folk clubs – either as Mike Bisiker’s Rack and Ruin Acoustic or as Bisiker, Radley and Berry – so if you run one, or know of a good one, and would like Rack and Ruin to play just get in touch on 07592 348817, contact us through our Facebook page or email band@rackandruin.band
Find out more about the full band version of Rack and Ruin on the Band website.
Rack and Ruin is also available as a barn dance or ceilidh band – more details on the Rack and Ruin ceilidh band website
© Photos on this website – Steff Hutchinson, John B Smith, Louis Radley, Jude Radley, Deb Gomme