Rod Stradling

Rod started English Country, Scottish and Morris Dancing in the 60s while still at school and began playing folk music in the early 70s.  His main instrument is the accordion but he also plays concertina and keyboards for English, Scottish and International dance.

In the late 70s he collaborated on the production of two booklets of dances, Wright's Humours, which are still selling well today.

During the 90s Rod lived in the United States where he played for many English, Scottish and International dance events from Boston to San Francisco including events at Pinewoods, the famous dance camp on the East Coast.

Rod's regular dance band is Stradivarious, but he also plays solo or with other ensembles depending on the requirements.  Over the past couple of years, Rod has played at festivals at Whitby, Southam, Lichfield and Broadstairs as well as various venues around the UK and Europe.  He is also an active dancer and a member of Green Man’s Morris and Sword Club.

Rod teaches in both one-on-one and group settings and within the school system.  Recent teaching engagements include the Musicians’ Weekend at Halsway Manor, Stafford Music Day and Stonesfield Music Day (Oxfordshire).  Rod is co-leader for the popular annual St Audries Bay Holiday Folk Week.

Over the years, Rod has made several recordings of English and Scottish dance music and runs a small studio making demo recordings and small CD production runs.  Rod’s studio can record, mix and master recordings for CD manufacture and produced the 2 CDs of live music recorded at the Holiday Folk Weeks.