Biography
The Deighton Family, based in Yorkshire, England, draws on a wide spectrum of musical traditions as its core repertoire. Father Dave leads the ensemble on melodeon, harmonica, fiddle, and guitar while handling lead vocals, and mother Josie contributes acoustic guitar and bodhran. The seven-piece outfit fuses Cajun two-steps, bluegrass breakdowns, folk ballads, blues, and roots rock & roll into an infectious, good-natured sound. Their second album, Acoustic Music to Suit Most Occasions, appeared in 1988 and earned National Public Radio's "record of the year" designation; in its coverage, The San Francisco Bay Guardian observed, "no matter what mood has hold of you when you approach this album, the breezy, giddy, feeling will take over". CMJ offered a comparable assessment, stating, "From dad Dave to six-year-old Angelina, the Deightons play with an unaffected spirit and feeling that shine right through the processed cheese that poses for music most of us are used to hearing". Besides Dave and Josie Deighton, the lineup includes their five children: Maya on tin whistle and flute, Arthur on mandolin and electric guitar, Kathleen on fiddle, Rosalie on vocals, percussion, and mandolin, and Angelina on boogie and percussion.
Albums
