I play traditional music on the melodeon and harmonica. My musical education took place largely in the pubs of Suffolk as a young adult, where I learned much from an older generation of musicians. Since then I have spent most of my life either playing traditional music or passing it on to others in one way or another.
In 2000 I co-founded the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust of which I was Artistic Director and General Manager until 2017. I created and produced many events, exhibitions, community projects, concerts, workshops and publications during my time there, all focussed on my local musical traditions.
In 2015 my late husband and I set up a comprehensive website documenting the history of the dulcimer in East Anglia – the instruments, players and makers, based on research we started in 1978. In 2025 I started a complete revision of the website with many new features: East Anglian Dulcimers
In 2021 I set up a new website to publish my research articles, most of which relate to traditional music in some way: Unsung Histories
I continue to keep busy as a musician, researcher, historian, writer and speaker, although I have now retired from teaching and event organisation.
Musical background
I started playing the melodeon whilst at university, teaching myself to play through listening to others. This was at a time when English traditional music was experiencing a renaissance and there was no shortage of exciting recordings and events to inspire me.
After moving to Suffolk in 1978, I spent many hours in pubs playing alongside traditional musicians and in 2000, with the founding of the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust, the music of my adopted locality became a huge focus for research and performance.
I play and learn by ear. I love the fact that learning by ear opens up music-making to people from all walks of life and I have taught many people to play instruments and express themselves musically in this way.
My main band currently is PolkaWorks and past ones include the Old Hat Dance Band, Katie’s Quartet and the Valiant Dance Band. I also play in occasional bands and duos with Roger Digby, Martin Brinsford and Michael Sheehy, including much music from the southwest of Ireland and even further afield!
You can find out more about my music and bands on the relevant pages. There’s also a detailed CV on the biography page.
EFDSS Gold Badge Award
In 2010, my husband John Howson and I were awarded the prestigious Gold Badge by the English Folk Dance and Song Society. You can read the EFDSS Gold Badge Citation here.
