Alex Lord is a fiddle player and guitarist deeply rooted in the traditional music of the British Isles, with a particular connection to his home county of Lancashire. He first picked up the fiddle at the age of nine, inspired by his uncle, Phil Beer, whom he fondly described to friends as “a rockstar.” That early passion led him to study under Sam Sweeney as a member of the National Youth Folk Ensemble, and in 2019 he was a BBC Young Folk Award Finalist, cementing his place as a rising talent on the English folk scene. Since then, he has performed across the UK and Europe and is a core member of the sea shanty band The Jack Tars, who are currently preparing for their European tour this summer.
Influenced by artists like Sam Sweeney, Gjermund Larsen, and Sam Lee, Alex is continually seeking to grow as a musician and deepen his connection to tradition. His fiddling is grounded in the English folk style, favouring tunes and songs that reflect the landscapes and stories of home. His playing has a distinctive groove that weaves freely in and out of the melody, sometimes, even to his own surprise. He draws particular inspiration from sea songs and coastal traditions, which feature strongly in his repertoire.
Alex is currently recording his debut solo EP, Day Trip to Argentina, a title that nods to a chaotic but memorable real-life detour to Buenos Aires, where he nearly joined an Argentinian sea shanty band popular in the Cornwall folk circuit.