BIOGRAPHY

Part 1 - From Larkrise to Doovnarna

Doonvarna were formed in Spring 2002…although, as is usually the case when exploring the history of a band, this doesn’t really tell the complete story. Indeed, even the notion that Doonvarna came together as a band in Spring 2002 isn’t really correct, so let’s go back a little further – 6 years further back in fact to 1996 and an event held in the village of Burgh-le-Marsh in Lincolnshire called ‘Artisan’.

Artisan ’96 was a local arts festival held in the village. One of the events taking place during the week was a concert at the Bell Hotel in the village. The concert would feature three bands, the Elysian Fields, The John Hague Band and a band to be organised by local musician Grahame Baumber. To cut a long story short, that band was called Larkrise – a four piece outfit playing a selection of traditional tunes and mainly instrumental covers of Fairport Convention songs. Amongst its members, Larkrise featured 17 year old David Hurdman on guitar, his 15 year old sister Hannah on flute. During the set, the band also borrowed the drummer from The John Hague band, a rock-covers group. Subconsciously, this was to have an influence on the musical path that David and Hannah would tred over the next few years.

Following their success at this event, Larkrise went on to play at many events, both public and private. Occasionally the band played with borrowed drummers from other bands on the same bill, but by and large they played acoustic and percussionless sets. However, the folk-rock direction that the band were heading in eventually dictated the necessity for a regular drummer and alternative vocalist. This duly arrived and further performances ensued. However, the recently acquired drummer was soon unable to commit to the band and so a replacement was sought and it is here that the story heads in the direction of Doonvarna.

So, 1997 arrived and Larkrise were back to the original line-up, still featuring brother and sister David and Hannah Hurdman. A replacement drummer was found in the form of their younger brother Richard. He hadn’t been playing drums for any considerable length of time but was clearly a natural drummer and, having being dragged along to almost every performance, knew the songs as well as the band themselves. He brought with him a more dramatic sound that, rather than simply backing the music, added another instrument to the line up.

At the same time the band also recruited singer, keyboard player and flautist Catherine Borrell. This was necessary as the band’s previous keyboard player also felt unable to commit to Larkrise. This line-up took the band forward for several years, taking in the band’s second performance at East Kirkby folk festival and also to a packed Embassy Centre in Skegness as part of the charity fundraiser ‘Something Special 2’.

In 2001 though, Larkrise came to an end. As tends to be the case, it wasn’t intended to be the end-it was never officially declared! Larkrise just didn’t play any further concerts. There was no animosity or ill-feeling. It just seemed to have run it’s natural course.

So, to Doonvarna. Doonvarna was really the result of a phone call to David, asking if a band could be put together for a charity concert back in Burgh-le-Marsh. To do so required a search no further than immediate family and former members of Larkrise! David Hurdman on guitars and vocals, Hannah Hurdman on flute and backing vocals, Richard Hurdman on drums and percussion and Catherine Hurdman on bass/keyboards. Catherine Hurdman? Well, between Larkrise and Doonvarna, David and Catherine married! Although it makes rehearsing and organising events more straightforward, it does tend to cause some particularly ‘heated’ discussions that you can only have with family members!

Having put together two sets that owed much to Larkrise’s material, a name was needed. Leaning towards the strong Irish influence in the band’s music the name Lisdoonvarna was put forward. However, at the last minute the ‘Lis’ was dropped and Doonvarna was born!

Coming in part 2 – Surpassing all previous achievements…