The combination of hurdy-gurdy and bagpipe drones propelled Blowzabella toward one of the most vigorous sonic identities in Celtic music. Deriving their moniker from the traditional melody “Blowzabella, Me Bouncing Doxie,” the ensemble assembled a high-energy Wall-of-Sound fusion that drew on British, French, Flemish, and Macedonian dance traditions. Students enrolled in the Musical Instrument Technology program at London College of Furniture established the group, which gave its first public performance in December 1978. Throughout the following ten years the lineup underwent repeated shifts. Jon Swayne, the final founding member and a multi-instrumentalist on flute, bagpipes, and saxophone, left in 1987. Although he rejoined the fold two years afterward, the band dissolved within twelve months, prompting several musicians to join the related projects X-Blowzabella and Babybella. Occasional reunions have occurred since, including a January 2002 appearance at Cecil Sharpe House in London.
