Welcome to the unusual world of Ian Harris; director and performer in The Poles Apart stilt walking band (recently was filmed for the BBC soap 'Eastenders') , Creator of The Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra, performer on classical guitar, Renaissance Lute, musical saw (recorded and performed with 'Keane' on their 2008 release, Perfect Symmetry, on the track 'Love is the end'), typewriter, spoons, mandolin, banjo etc....

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or phone me on 00 44 (0)7939368874

Clients of Poles Apart

Celebrity Clients

Several Royal Events, parties for celebs such as Eastenders (appearing on Christmas 2009 edition), K T Tunstall (house-warming party), Microsoft, GlaxoSmithKline, Andrew Lloyd Webber (son's wedding), Terry Wogan, Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse, Ken Dod, Jimmy Tarbuck, The Queen, Cilla Black, Richard E Grant, Nicholas Parsons, Judith Chalmers, Jasper Carrot, Rolf Harris, Richard Branson & the architect Richard Rogers

Prestigious Venues

The Athens Olympics, Dubai Shopping Festival, Henley and Cowes Regatta (several times), Commonwealth Games, Romania's B'estfest 2009, Millennium Dome, Earls Court, Wembley Stadium, Blenheim Palace, Royal Courts of Justice, Grays Inn, The Savoy Hotel, Natural History & Science Museums, National Portrait Gallery, HAC (Honourable Artillary Company), Glastonbury Festival, & Epsom, Kempton, Windsor and Brighton Racecourses.

Town festivals

Norwich, Worcester, Leicester, Cardiff, Swansea, Brighton, Hastings, Havant, Portsmouth, Inverness, Dublin, Liverpool, Manchester, Canary Wharf, Bracknell, Bournemouth, Isle of Wight, Devizes, Arundel, Burgess Hill, Harrogate, Aylesbury, Chelmsford, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Maidstone, High Wycombe and Southport.

Countries we have performed in

Egypt, Romania, Holland, Turkey, Greece, China, Portugal, France, Dubai, Republic of Ireland, and, of course, England, Scotland and Wales.

Store openings

Mothercare, Barratt's Homes, Halfords and Ikea.

References

Musical Saw references

References for my playing on Keane's 2008 album 'Perfect Symmetry', particularly on the track 'Love is the end':

'Love that musical saw'

Tom Chaplin (Lead vocalist, Keane)

'The interplay between the different elements in the arrangement is sublime - wonderfully understated piano, swirling strings and the eerily beautiful sound of the musical saw'

Keane backline

Mandolin Orchestra References

St George's is the Fretful Federation's headquarters, and was the perfect setting for this quicky but novel orchestra. The thirty strong ensemble featured mandolins of all shapes and sizes and was augmented by seven guitars. There were Greek and Russian influences as evidenced on 'Cossack Memories' and 'Concerto da Camera', which featured a sprightly solo from Ian Harris. A Japanese piece had the drama of a Bernard Hermann score and the tension of a Morricone spaghetti western. Elgar's romantic 'Salut D'Amour' contained a ghostly saw solo and the circus finale had all the drama and frivolity of the big top.

Steve Clements, Latest 7, Brighton & Hove Festival.

Jennifer Brown, the organiser of the Hailsham Arts Festival

"I felt I had to contact you, this morning, to say a big thank you for a lovely evening. Will you please send our sincere thanks to Ian, and his wonderful orchestra; I have already received several calls, this morning, of a similar nature. To date we have raised £1,050.00 for the hospice."

Maggi Griffin, St Catherine's Hospice

Stilt walking band references

Great, marvelous, brilliant! Love to (to the suggestions we put her on stilts and play some of her tunes with her).

K T Tunstall

Great Elvis! Very Funny

Harry Enfield

Many, many thanks to Ian and the Insects!! Clients loved them!!! Super performance. We all had a fab time and everyone in Daventry is talking about it now.

Would defo use you again!!

Jelena Milic The Cube Daventry

Just to let you know that I had a debrief with the client, last week, and you were mentioned as one of the major highlights of the day, so thanks again for all your hard work, on the day/evening, and I look forward to working with you again soon.

Thanks for last night, great feedback!

The performers were fantastic, the client was really happy! (02.06.09)

Archie Archer, Contraband Events re London Zoo gig.

Thanks... you went down a storm!

Lara Featherstone. Brighton Council

We want to let you know, that Overijssel op Straat 2008 was a great success because of your performence.

We hope you had a good trip home, and we will see again!

best regards,

KUNSTen op straat.
Carlijn Assink

Hi Ian. Sunday's event was a great success and the client was extremely happy. Thank you for your involvement in the event and we look forward to working with you in the near future.

Kelly Larkin, Corporate Occasions

I know there was great interest and I will definitely recommend you as I think it's such an unusual concept!

Katie Watts, Couture Cakes, Spalding, Lincs

Just a note to say thanks for the great entertainment yesterday evening... I've had a lot of positive comments this morning, so many Thanks

Georgia Smith  Worcester City Centre Manager; 2006 Christmas Lights on

Many thanks for Saturday - I came by a couple of times, but you were mid flow sounding great.

Mish Toszeghi KP Events; Re Oxford Street Opening Dec 2006

Please extend our thanks to all at Poles Apart for their performance in Inverness. The Insect band went down very well with the audience and you all helped to make the event a success.

Gillian Devlin Unique Events; re Highland 2007 in Inverness

Hi Ian

Late I know, but many many thanks for your performance at St Clears Easter Saturday.

You were all brilliant, and, if I have the opportunity, I shall book you again...

Once again, Many Thanks - happy to give an endorsement for you!!

Eleri Retallick

Principal Arts Officer