Trev Woodison, also known as Trev the Pianoman, is thought to be one of only five traditional pub pianists left in the UK and the youngest among them. However, it’s not the accolades that he cherishes but the preservation of this cherished art form.
Trev fears that without more individuals following his path, this much-adored tradition could fade into obscurity. It’s no easy task to become a pub pianist, as evidenced by the fact that 60 year old Trev has memorised an astonishing 4,000 songs to cater to the diverse requests of pub-goers.
His vast songbook spans all music genres, and unlike other musicians who perform gigs with a predetermined setlist, Trev leaves his performance entirely up to his audience. The only certainty is that he will begin his set with “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” – a nod to his West Ham allegiance – and conclude with “Land of Hope and Glory.”
These two tunes account for just eight minutes of a three-hour performance, and Trev has learned to always anticipate the unexpected. He shared: “That’s the fun and exciting element of it. It’s a wonderful art form and is a tradition that is over 160 years old, but it’s on the brink of extinction and it’s something we really don’t want to lose. Other than beer, it’s probably the longest tradition pubs have.”, reports Devon Live.
He added: “There are so few genuine pub pianists left in the country. We have a unique style in which we play and our role is extremely rare. I believe I am the youngest player left. The next youngest is 72. The others doing it are in their 70s and 80s. I’m fighting to try and keep the tradition alive. I don’t want to be known as the last pub pianist if I am still around in 20 years time.
“We need younger people to take it up but there’s a lot of work involved in becoming a player. You are not measured by how good a player you are or your competence but by your memory of songs instead. You need a repertoire of 1,000 songs which takes between two to three years. It’s a similar commitment to being a London cab driver and learning all the knowledge they have.
“Before Covid, mine was up to 3,000 and then as I was laid off I got up to around 4,300 songs. To also be a pub pianist, you need a minimum piano grade of seven or eight.” Trev, residing in the quaint village of Zeal Monachorum in Mid Devon, touts his location as ‘remarkably central’ for reaching gigs near and far. He frequently entertains at pubs but also delivers musical solace to care home residents, particularly those battling Alzheimer’s, providing them with therapeutic melodies.
A regular at The Bicton Inn in Exmouth, Trev often plays a 1950s Broadwood concert grand piano that he describes as playing ‘like a dream’, alongside a 1920s gem at the Torridge Inn in Torrington. His music also graces the Cadeleigh Arms near Tiverton, where he has revived a piano that hadn’t been touched for ages, which now sings again thanks to a fine retuning.
A piano was also discovered in The Bootlegger in Exeter, a known spot for live gigs. Another haunt of Trev’s is the Poltimore Arms in Yarde Down, home to ‘the grumpiest landlord’ in Britain, Steve Cotton, who has made several media appearances and owns three pianos.
Recounting the usual surprise he encounters when he arrives to play at a local, Trev explained: “People in their 20s and 30s, and even in their 40s, have never seen or understood the concept of a pub piano. When I turn up, people are surprised by the lack of equipment I have, especially if the pub has a piano. I just have a bag with a tuning hammer in, and some cards and posters which I put up in the pub.”
He added, detailing the initial scepticism and subsequent revelling: “The first reaction I get is, ‘who is this guy?’, and then we realise it is just me on the piano, they don’t think it’s going to be a great night. I play a few old pub songs and then they might ask if I know any Status Quo, Black Sabbath, Queen or Abba and before long people are headbanging and the whole pub is singing along.”
Highlighting the transformational effect of his music, Trev said: “The pub is happy because they sell more drinks as people are more thirsty from singing! It’s wonderful to see that initial hostility when I turn up to getting everyone in full spirits. It’s one of the greatest parts of the job, along with bringing the pub piano alive again.
“Some pubs hesitate to hire a pub pianist, thinking it’s too old-fashioned and won’t appeal to their clientele, but those who take the plunge are often pleasantly surprised by the outcome, particularly in wet-led establishments.” Trev reminisces about the heyday of pub pianists in London during the late ’70s, noting that thousands once tickled the ivories across the city. However, he laments that approximately 80 per cent of the venues where he used to perform have since shut down.
He commented: “Virtually every pub had a piano in use every day. There was more than enough work for pub pianists but over the years it has dwindled. One of the things that really hit it was when karaoke machines were introduced into pubs in the ’80s.” The pandemic dealt another severe blow, according to Trev: “Then another big hit was the coronavirus pandemic. A lot of the players were elderly so have not come back and pubs have been slow to make bookings.”
Trev points out his competitive edge: “The advantage I have is I am a lot cheaper than bands or even DJs who just play records and can charge hundreds of pounds.” He observes that many pubs still possess a neglected piano: “Quite a few pubs still have an old piano sat in the corner. Some are in a bad way and are not playable, but others are still very good.”
Trev mainly graces the keys in traditional pubs rather than modern gastropubs. While many establishments no longer house pianos, Trev is prepared with his own portable instrument or suggests pubs acquire one, which isn’t as expensive as one might think. He shared a tip for budget-conscious venues: “You can find pianos for free to a good home on Facebook Marketplace. In recent months, sports bar Shooters in Dawlish acquired one from Newton Abbot for free.
“The publican liaised with a local farmer to borrow his horsebox, which is an excellent method for transporting pianos as they are top heavy, much like a horse. The Country House Inn in Exmouth also received one for free from Budleigh Salterton, thus preventing it from ending up in landfill. They were both perfectly good pianos and it would have been a travesty to see them destroyed given the craftsmanship that went into making them.”
Trev, who hails from a working class background in Newham, London, began his piano journey at the tender age of seven. He was inspired by renowned British pianist Winifred Atwell, whose music he discovered on his grandad’s 78rpm records, shifting his childhood dream from being a tube train driver to becoming a pianist. He was fortunate enough to receive free lessons.
Living across the street from ‘legendary’ pub pianist Dick Broadie was another stroke of luck. Broadie, who had rubbed shoulders with the likes of singer and entertainer Vera Lynn, had an impressive repertoire of 11,500 songs committed to memory. “I just knew I wanted to play like him and Winifred,” Trev reminisced. “Dick asked me to teach his daughter to play piano; it felt like Mike Tyson asking me to give his child boxing lessons. I was somewhat daunted, but he asked me because he couldn’t read a note of music and had never taken a piano lesson in his life.
“He expressed his desire for his daughter to learn to play properly, as I had been taught. I agreed to this arrangement in exchange for him teaching me pub piano techniques.” Trev stepped in to cover for Dick during breaks, and this segued into a career as a standout performer, bagging more cash than his mates with paper rounds. His musical journey took him from local gigs to studying at a music college in Colchester, before eventually settling in Devon.
He’s carved out a decent living as a pub pianist while also dedicating time to teaching and composing tunes. Opening up about his situation, Trev acknowledged: “Although I’m getting by, I am not fully booked. My biggest aim is to keep the British tradition alive.”