Biography
Formed in 1982 in Malborough, South Devon, the first Rumpus line up of Nigel Sture, Alan Boyce, Steve Cobb and Lisa Sture, emerged from a weekly folk session in the village pub. Playing country dance music for ceilidhs, as well as residencies in several pubs and hotels, this line up continued until 1984, when Alan and Steve left to be succeeded by Paul and Stephanie Buddle. As the band developed, more songs made it to the repertoire, the idea of making a recording emerged. Early 1986 saw Paul and Stephanie leave. Nigel and Lisa were joined by Trish Georgi, and rehearsals continued for the album “Songs Of The South Devon Coast”, which was released later that year. Unfortunately the band split shortly afterward.
Nigel, joined again by Paul and Stephanie, together with Steve Jupp continued in 1987 playing ceilidhs under the name Rumpus Dance Band. They were joined in 1988 by Howard Frey, but he and Steve left later that year. They were replaced by Ray Watson on lead guitar, and Richard Carr on drums, which saw the band start heading in a more Cajun/Zydeco direction, and led to a change of name, in 1989, to Corridor 38. This continued with only Richard leaving, being replaced by Chris Pope, who in turn was replaced by Nigel Sture (now drumming) and Simon Crowe. Nigel left in 1993, and Corridor 38 continued for another few years, eventually becoming a duo of Paul and Stephanie.
After leaving corridor 38 there was a return to traditional music from Britain in 1993 as Nigel joined the country dance ‘big band’ that was Racing Demon and the English country dance band Five Bar Gait. Racing Demon also featured Martin Fenton, and latterly several “depping” appearances by Steve Dart ( both appear in the latest incarnation of Rumpus).
In 2000 the decision was made to resurrect the Rumpus band name, again from playing in the same weekly Session, that the band had originated, in Malborough which Nigel had been hosting since 1978. The current line up of Nigel Sture on melodeon, Sarah Maddocks on concertina, Steve Dart on fiddle, and after a brief spell of Les Noden, Martin Fenton on guitar, continue to play as Rumpus Ceilidh Band.
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