When Duncan Chappell took early retirement in 2017, having been to over 250 music gigs in the previous three years travelling as far afield at Bournemouth, Gateshead, Cardiff, and Cambridge, he knew that he would not be sitting with his feet up and nothing to do now that his official working days were behind him! Duncan and his wife Vanessa shared a dream of putting on their own events so that they could have the indulgence of seeing who they wanted to, when they wanted to, locally in Oxfordshire and sharing the experience with local people.
Having formed ‘Big Ginger Tom Music,’ Duncan approached contemporary folk/acoustic duo Gilmore & Roberts who combine award-winning songwriting with astounding musicianship and their trademark harmonies, creating a powerful wall of sound. The duo was asked to do a pre-Towersey Festival gig at the newly redeveloped Harwell Village Hall and that gig was a great success. With over fifty more successful gigs under their belt, BGTM has gone from strength to strength is now able to attract some big-name artists including Show of Hands, Lady Maisery, Merry Hell, Ninebarrow, Ranagri and India Electric Co who have performed at Harwell. Many artists wish to come back and play at Harwell, all commenting on what a warm and receptive audience they have played to and to keep people coming back BGTM puts on a varied programme from Trad Folk, through Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Rock, and Pop to keep things interesting.
Since 2022, when he was approached by Faringdon Town Council to bring more music to The Corn Exchange, BGTM has run three successful events in the town with four more planned for the coming months during 2024. Along with the events in Harwell and Faringdon, Duncan also does ‘The Lean to Sessions’ from his home in Abingdon, curates the programme for Abingdon’s Unicorn Theatre as part of the Music At The Unicorn team and in recent years has performed at the Beardy Folk Festival and Between The Trees Festival. For anyone who has spent time in one of the Oxfordshire hospitals and listened to Radio Cherwell, you may have heard Duncan’s ‘Folkin’ Around’ show playing some of his favourite songs from his favoured music genre and since 2019.
BGTM is a family affair, as his wife Vanessa takes care of the artist catering and runs the bar whilst daughter Nicole helps out with the bar too. Duncan and Vanessa try and support local vendors whenever possible with beer from Loose Cannon Brewery and gin from The Abingdon Distillery. Sound for their smaller events is undertaken by Simon Jury (well known to those living in Faringdon) whilst Bradley Bowers of BCB Media undertakes sound for the bigger events.
To see what gigs are happening locally please visit their website biggingertommusic.co.uk, email them at biggingertommusic@gmail.com or call Duncan on 07999 052720.
