Bio
About Fern and the Gang
Fern and the Gang is a rock and blues covers band based in and around the Forest of Dean. We rehearse in Drybrook, but we are happy to travel widely for gigs. We try to play music that has pretty much universal appeal; we adapt our playlists and volume to suit the venue/occasion; and we never use backing tracks. To quote the organiser of a recent birthday party, "...just wanted to say a massive thanks for playing last weekend. So many people commented on how fabulous the music was - we are really grateful. Hope to see you all again soon!"
Although Fern and the Gang has been gigging since 2012, we have only been in our current line up since January 2024. Between us, the current band members have the best part of 100 years of gigging experience. Please have a look at our current playlist, listen to some of our songs, or go to our Facebook page to get a better idea of what we do.
Our members:
lead Vocals - Maxine
Maxine cut her musical teeth in a Bertolt Brecht play when she was 17. Music and drama always went together but later she found they didn’t go so well with motherhood!
She has enjoyed singing in all kinds of venues from the crowded hot house of a bar to the glittery party when she gets to wear a posh frock.
Maxine is not quite sure what a genre is, nor whether understanding them matters, because she loves all kinds of music (except perhaps hip hop.) Her favourite piece of music?… well the one that she was just singing, of course.
bass guitar and backing vocals - tim
Tim started playing bass whilst at college.
He joined his first band after a chance encounter with a drummer at Waterloo Station. Many bands have come and gone over the years, both covers and originals playing in the UK and Germany, venues large and small. One notable gig was on the back of a flatbed truck at a B-B-Q in Yellowstone National Park in USA.
Tims style and musical taste is heavily influenced by Andy Fraser (Free), John Entwistle (The Who) and many other masters of the low frequencies.
lead guitar - mark
Mark first starting playing guitar sometime in his 20s. He eventually joined a band some 30 years later.
Firstly playing in a two guitar band he now is the sole guitar player in Fern and the Gang. Playing mainly blues and classic rock he has played a variety of gigs including one memorable one on the back of a lorry in the middle of a storm…
drums - nigel
Nigel started playing the drums when he was 8 – he was in a brass band and the conductor told him to, “Hit the bass drum when you see the bass player’s cheeks inflate.” Pretty good advice.
Over the years, he has led a nomadic lifestyle, so his drumming experience has come in fits and starts, ranging from playing a side drum with pipes and bugles to drumming in rock and blues bands playing in venues ranging from the tiny to 2500 people.