John Spiers (born 1975) is an English melodeon, concertina and bandoneón player. He was born in Birmingham. His father is a Morris dancer. He attended John Mason School in Abingdon, and then went on to study genetics at King's College, Cambridge. As a child he learned the organ and piano and when he was a university student he began to play the piano accordion and melodeon. After spending some time busking he started a new career selling melodeons. He now plays with the duo Spiers and Boden and the band Bellowhead, as well as being part of Eliza Carthy's band The Ratcatchers. He and his partner have a son and a daughter.
John also features on the following CDs:
- Sea Shanties (2002) (The Gift of Music) - also featuring Jon Boden, Ian Giles and Graham Metcalfe.
- Folk Music of England (1999) (The Gift of Music) - also featuring Amber Quartet, Dragonsfire, Ian Giles, Dr Faustus.
- Folk Music of Wales (1999) (The Gift of Music) - also features Benji Kirkpatrick, Paul Sartin, Dragonsfire, Amber Quartet, Ian Giles and Jon Banks.
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John Spiers
John Spiers (born 1975) is an English melodeon, concertina and bandoneón player. He was born in Birmingham. His father is a Morris dancer. He attended John Mason School in Abingdon, and then went on t...
Biography
Past Appearances
- 2026 22 May 2026
- 2018 25 May 2018
- 2016 19 Aug 2016
- 2015 21 Aug 2015



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