Music for Tracing the Rails — Pint an’ a Whistle

Pint an' a Whistle

Like the rhythmic clatter of wheels on old iron rails, the music of Pint an' a Whistle carries the soul of a journey. Born from a love of folk tradition and the rolling history of Britain’s railways, this Sussex-based band crafts evocative, bespoke compositions for Tracing the Rails—each tune a bridge between past and present.

Their music breathes life into the forgotten tracks we rediscover. As the series unfolds, so too will their soundtrack, set to be released at the end of Season One, a musical time capsule for every listener who longs for the romance of the rails.

Alan Knights

Ian Fyvie

Cliff Dowding

Pint an' a Whistle – Folk Music with a Railway Soul

Like the echo of a whistle through a misty station, the music of Pint an' a Whistle carries a deep connection to tradition, storytelling, and the rhythm of the rails. Their roots trace back to early-1990s Brighton folk sessions at The Jolly Brewer, where co-founder Ian Fyvie cut his teeth among kindred players and long evenings of tunes. Years later at The Woolpack in Burgess Hill, classically trained musician Alan Knights stepped into the circle—drawn in by the energy, the camaraderie, and the sheer joy of a well-played set.

Today Pint an’ a Whistle is completed by Clifford (“Cliff”)—the show’s recording engineer and a multi-instrumentalist—whose craft gives the band its recorded heartbeat. An accomplished sound and lighting engineer, Cliff holds a National Diploma in Music Technology and a BA (Hons) in Music Production. He runs MX Sound and Lighting (est. 2019), providing sound, lighting, and recording services, and records and mixes the band’s bespoke soundtrack for Tracing the Rails. As a performer and composer (a.k.a. The Mighty Xanthus)

You’ll often find the trio at The Round Georges in Brighton’s Kemptown on a Tuesday, sharing lively sets and evocative ballads with locals and travellers alike. Their love of the railway runs as strong as their love of folk: Ian is active in a signal box preservation society (with a soft spot for wagons), and Alan fulfilled a lifelong dream by driving a steam locomotive for his 60th. When they discovered Tracing the Rails, they offered a song; the collaboration quickly became a score—music that blends melody with motion, history with harmony.

We plan to release the Pint an’ a Whistle: Tracing the Rails soundtrack at some point in the future — a musical time capsule of the journey so far. Until then, catch them live — pint in hand — keeping the folk tradition, and the romance of the rails, very much alive.

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