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Clare was introduced to the world of bluegrass music at a very tender age by her mum and dad, who dragged her from one muddy field to another, along with her sister, to watch her father, renowned dobro Player Pat Francis (Fingers & Co.-Grassfire-Blackjack), perform at most of the UK bluegrass festivals.
This annual round of endurance tests, cunningly disguised as ‘camping weekends’ gave Clare a taste for the music, although she did not immediately pick up on playing the music. Instead, at school she started out by playing the Piano; working through the grades as far as grade 5 and playing at various concerts throughout her time at school. Clare’s acoustic upright piano was replaced eventually with an electric piano, which she still has and enjoys playing today. There was also an electric guitar for jamming along with various rock artists; her main love being Bon Jovi.
After years of going to the Bluegrass festivals and soaking up the many sounds and styles of acoustic picking, she decided to try her hand at the Banjo, inspired by the likes of Earl Scruggs and Bela Fleck. Listening for hours to countless bluegrass albums and watching bands like the Johnson Mountain Boys and Hot Rize at the festivals, she fell in love with the driving sound and at the 1994 Didmarton Bluegrass Festival splashed-out on a Washburn B-16 5 string banjo, which has since accompanied her to all the festivals, where she takes every opportunity to terrorise the natives and better her playing.
In 1994 Clare enrolled in college on a 1 year music course (First Diploma in Performing Arts Music (Rock and Jazz), majoring in piano as her main instrument. This was a great success and lead her on to a 2 year Diploma course.
It was on this course in 1995 that she met her future husband David Rozzell who was studying Lead Vocals and acoustic rhythm guitar. On the strength of their mutual love for acoustic music, (as well as rock and jazz) Clare introduced David to the delights of bluegrass music and they started going to the festivals together.
Building on this love for acoustic music, Clare and David started working as a duo, performing David’s self penned songs, and covers of various artists, many of them from the world of bluegrass.
WWW is Clare’s first band, since leaving college. In Wood, Wire and Words, Clare has found an opportunity to develop her love for acoustic music and take on yet another instrument. She started out playing Electric Bass for the trio, but with the ambition to play at festivals it made more sense for all three members to be playing acoustically, so a double bass became the obvious choice and, needless to say, Clare has risen to the challenge, giving Wood, Wire and Words a fully acoustic sound with a steady bass at the helm.
Clare uses her beautiful harmonies to great effect and also takes the lead vocals on some songs. She hasn’t given up the banjo either and on occasion will be swapping the bass for the banjo.
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