Peter Knight

Peter Knight is a British folk musician and fiddler from the United Kingdom, born in London in 1947. He is best known as a member of Steeleye Span and has also worked in several related folk line-ups, including Peter Knight & Maddy Prior, Peter Knight & John Spiers, Peter Knight’s Gigspanner, and Peter Knight’s Gigspanner Big Band.

Early life and training

As a child, Knight learns violin and mandolin, then studies at the Royal Academy of Music from 1960 to 1964. He is influenced by the recordings of Irish fiddler Michael Coleman, which leads him to take part in Irish pub sessions.

Steeleye Span and other work

Knight teams up with guitarist and singer Bob Johnson until 1970, when he joins Steeleye Span. He leaves the group in January 1977, then returns in 1980 and appears on every Steeleye Span album from that point on. His classical background becomes more visible on the recording of “A Canon by Telemann” on Back In Line, where he multi-tracks with himself on the baroque piece.

In the mid-1970s, Knight is also secretly a member of The Wombles and appears on Top of the Pops as Uncle Bulgaria, alongside Rick Kemp and Bob Johnson in Womble costumes. After leaving Steeleye Span in the 1970s, he and Bob Johnson record the concept album The King of Elfland’s Daughter in 1978, based on the novel by Lord Dunsany. The album includes one song sung by Alexis Korner and another by Mary Hopkin.

Related projects

Knight later takes part in Feast of Fiddles, a 2001 gathering of leading English and Scottish folk fiddlers. The group tours annually from 2001 and issues live recordings from past concerts in a limited, unsigned way, with CDs sold at gigs or over the internet. Its performances focus mainly on traditional English tunes in different solo, duo and full-group combinations.

Style and instruments

Knight is associated with folk music and is identified as a Steeleye Span fiddler. His early training on violin and mandolin, together with his classical studies, shapes his role in folk and electric folk settings.