Chip Bailey is a unique drummer, musician and experienced workshop facilitator with over 25 years of gigs, performances, sessions and facilitating workshops.
As an instinctive and innovative drummer and percussionist the London born Belfast resident combines his serious skills with an infectious sense of humour and fun, and an ability to share the joys of making music with the wider community.
His long term work and collaboration with Irish artist Duke Special has provided many adventures and in the process playing in many diverse situations from Wembley to the Dog and Duck, with The Muppets to a bendy bus in Belfast.
Chip is never happier than making music with people regardless of ability, age, background. Whether it be high profile events like Glastonbury or working with young people starting out. Playing blues, hip hop or fronting a 60 piece orchestra with his stump fiddle, reconciliation work with musicians as he has in Albania, South Africa and Rwanda, or simply handing out instruments to any group of willing participants to create a spontaneous percussion orchestra.
“There’s a difference between playing music and being music” says Chip. ”Having technical ability is important but making music isn’t all about technical ability. Playing for the song, playing for the moment, playing with feeling is as important. It is a privilege to be able to perform and you learn to listen and work together with the musicians with whom you share the stage. Learning to project your personality and who you are through your instrument, finding ways to draw your audience in, own the stage and not be apologetic are all essential. I believe the more you enjoy what you do, the more it connects with your audience. Enthusiasm is catching - this is what I hope to inspire in others.”
“Duke Special is lucky enough to have the most entertaining drummer/percussionist in the world” – HOT PRESS MAGAZINE
“A marvellously entertaining and accomplished drummer/percussionist” – CAMBRIA ARTS, WALES
“Greenbelts own Hobbit, Chip Bailey on drums and percussion, playing perfectly, dramatically, sensitively” – STEVE LAWSON, GREENBELT FESTIVAL
“The amazingly talented percussionist Temperance society Chip Bailey is an astonishing live performer”- POPIDLE.EU
