Rack and Ruin Acoustic

Rack and Ruin Acoustic is a four piece acoustic version of The Band of Rack and Ruin.

Rack and Ruin at the Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham – 8 Mar 2023

We played at this internationally famous folk club for the first time in many years on a night of driving heavy snow.

Thanks to those who braved the weather to come and support us.  We had a good night despite the lower audience numbers.  Hopefuly we can play there on another night with better weather!

Thanks to Christopher Crompton who was our support on the night and who played a great set of songs.

Rack and Ruin Acoustic at Combe Community Hub

Rack and Ruin Acoustic Live at the Hub
Rack and Ruin Acoustic recently playing an acoustic night at the Combe Community Hub in Oxfordshire (OX29 8NA).
Rack and Ruin Acoustic Live at the Hub MickWe had a great time playing 2 sets of songs and tunes to a very enthusiastic sold out audience.

If you came along thanks very much for your very warm and vocal support-we really enjoyed ourselves!  Quite a lot of the songs were Mick Bisiker’s own composition while others were traditional songs.

There were also jigs and reels aplenty with a celtic flavour featuring our fiddle player for the night Lauren South.  We will be back at Combe just before Christmas – we are looking forward to it!

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 Warwick Folk Club, CV Folk 2nd Sunday at the Albany Theatre,  Willow and Tool Folk Parlour, The Wurzel Bush Folk Club, Rugby, Stockton Folk Club  and the Woodman Folk Club, Kingswinford – if you came along to any of those thanks for your support .


We are keen to play other new venues and folk clubs 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 or email band@rackandruin.co.uk

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