The name was chosen as a combination of the location of the Bridge Folk Club at the north end of the
High Level Bridge in
Newcastle upon Tyne, where they all played, and from the
Cheviot Ranters, a famous Northumberland dance band operating in the
Alnwick area from about 1953 to 1996. The High Level Ranters have been playing traditional music and song from
North East England for nearly 40 years, becoming one of the most influential groups of the
British folk revival. For many years they were the only group featuring the Northumbrian smallpipes in their performances, and are thus responsible for introducing many of today's pipers to this unique instrument. They have also introduced many of today's musicians to the distinctive traditional music in the North East, and have done so with a unique enthusiasm of performance. Performers such as The High Level Ranters brought Northumbrian folk to national and international audiences. The band were featured twice, live in session, by
BBC Radio 1's
John Peel - first on 18 October 1972, recorded at the
Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue in London and later, on 3 July 1974, recorded at the
BBC Newcastle studio. The band continues to tour and may be booked through their official website. ==Band members==