Ian Petrie first picked up a guitar in the '60s and quickly learnt the folk songs of the day. Before too long he started writing his own material and through the '70s became a regular at folk clubs in London and across the South East. During this time, he and a couple of friends formed Dolphin Smile and this helped to establish him as an accomplished performer, writer and singer.

From 1980 – 1986 Ian worked as a full-time member of the seminal Kent folk band Skinners Rats and learned the art of country dance calling - a skill that is very much in demand with a number of other bands, as well as his own Big Ian Petrie Band.

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Over the last 20 years Ian has built on his reputation as a brilliant singer and caller - he has appeared on radio two and local folk programmes and once appeared, with Skinners Rats on ‘The Big Breakfast’ TV show.

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Ian’s band has recorded several CDs and he has recently produced a couple of solo CD EPs of his own songs, which he sells with the threat of...“give us a quid or else….”

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Ian’s current repertoire comprises his own songs, as well as many songs he has grown to love, and veer wildly between tragedy and comedy. In early February this year, Ian released a new CD; a collection of his own songs, entitled Sixty Years, which is available directly from him, by post (email ianpetrie@aol.com with your postal address), or can be downloaded via bandcamp.

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