Meet all the staff at Eagle Music Shop

Meet The Team

Eagle Music Shop is based in the tranquil setting of Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield. We are a family business headed by Steve Noon. Our aim is to provide a personal and friendly service, supplying quality musical products at the keenest possible prices. Whether you are an absolute beginner to playing music or a seasoned professional you will find our showrooms and web pages packed with high value musical instruments and accessories sourced and chosen very carefully from the worlds leading suppliers and manufacturers. We offer these to you at the best prices. …and all this is backed up by a service second to none. We will never be ‘knowingly’ out-priced, and ask you to let us match or beat any genuine price that has been offered to you.

The foundations of Eagle Music Shop have been built on almost two decades of experience in the musical retail and wholesale business.

Steve Noon - Founder & Business Owner

Steve founded Eagle Music Shop after working many years in the traditional music business in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire. Steve gained much experience working with Dave ‘Mally’ Mallinson and David J Taylor in the happy days of ‘Dave Mallinson Music’ specialising in accordions, banjos, guitars and other stringed instruments of all descriptions. When DJT moved to Ireland and Mally formed ‘Dave Mallinson Publications’ Steve was joined with two partners and continued to run the business with his family Joan Noon (wife) and Rachel Price (daughter) for a number of years until ‘the course was run’!

Steve plays many instruments to a high standard and is a mine of information in most musical categories. Steve started to play Ukulele at an early age then went on to play classical guitar and piano. He was a bugler in a band at the age of fourteen! and played in folk and rock bands in the early sixties. Working as a showband and in cabaret he toured in the late sixties and early seventies as a professional musician with Mark Fender & the Trackers, or as they were described in those days …‘The North’s ‘Premier’ Entertainers’!

Steve played Irish tenor banjo, mandolin and guitar with Chris Dyson’s ‘Gael Force’ in the eighties and later was the founder of the much acclaimed Celtic rock band ‘Gan Ainm’ where he was joined with brother in law and guitarist Cyd Ruttle, Hugh Bradley - bass and Jes Fussey - drums…Steve penned most of the tunes and music for their well received album ’The Emerald and The Porter’ … a great band!

Over the past seventeen years or so Steve has worked with his family ceilidh band ‘Mothers Delight’ with the line up …Steve Noon – Banjo & Guitar, Joan Noon - Accordion, Cyd Ruttle – Guitar , Tony Ruttle - Mandolin, Mark Mawby – Fiddle & Guitar with callers Ron Darnbrough, Alan Hughes, Hugh and Terry Evans to mention but a few.
Steve’s family, along with Dave ‘Mally’ Mallinson …have run a Monday night music session for nearly two decades which is now held at the Slubbers Arms, Birkby, Huddersfield… come along and bring your instrument …you never know who might be there for you to have a tune with!

Joan Noon - Partner

Joan is a key member of the team and is heavily involved in the general day to day running of the business. She is our mail order department guru and oversees packing and dispatch. Joan’s musical experience makes a great contribution to Eagle Music Shop, at a very young age she began to learn piano and also taught recorder at school. She has a great understanding of most instruments that we sell and specialises at the shop in our accordion department.

Joan comes from an enviable Irish musical background and was brought up listening to her mum Imelda McMahon-Ruttle a fine piano player and teacher. Joan has a perfect ear for music.

Working with Steve in the old days in Cleckheaton with Dave Mallinson ‘The Squeezebox Specialist’ you may have met Joan demonstrating accordions or maybe at a festival, fleadh or session. Joan has spent a lifetime in music from her early days. Joan contributes to Eagle Music Shop a wealth of knowledge, along with her warm and friendly Irish personality.

Joan attends music festivals and trade shows with Steve throughout the year, she is always friendly, approachable and eager to help with enquiries or give you information on the products that we sell.

Rachel Price - Partner

Steve’s daughter Rachel is the shop manager and attends to the every day running of the shop. Accounts, stock control and general administration are just some of Rachel’s duties that she carries out in her happy and efficient manner!

Rachel grew up in the musical Noon household with Steve and Joan and explored many musical avenues including guitar and squeezebox, she studied piano and reached high grades in examinations …guess who plays for the carols at Christmas time!

On completion of her English literature degree, Rachel came to the old shop to work part time and quickly came to love the trade …this was eight years ago. Rachel is now a firm partner of the Eagle Music business. Working side by side with Steve during this time, and we can say that Rachel knows the Eagle Music business inside out.

Rachel gained much experience working in Cleckheaton as the manager of the old shop and from the outset has brought to Eagle Music Shop all those years of experience in the traditional music business.

Over the years at the shops, Rachel has become an expert on printed music… if it’s available, in print, out of print or about to be printed! Rachel will most likely be able to tell you.

James Noon - Chameleon Digital Media, Site designer and Web Master

Steve’s son James has been involved with the business from the outset, his technical skills have been invaluable in the development of Eagle Music Shop. Working as a designer and media entrepreneur, James heads his own business ‘ Chameleon Digital Media ’ and occupies offices adjacent the shop.

Working closely with Steve and the team, James has designed the Eagle Music Shop website and is involved on a day to day basis for all internet functionality.

Growing up with music in the Noon family home, and in his youthful years James took fiddle lessons from folk hero Tom McConville, he also plays bodhran and guitar and has worked as a club DJ …All this has given James a great feeling for music which shows through in the Eagle Music Shop website design.

James received a ‘Highly Commended Creative Enterprise’ award in the Huddersfield Examiner 2006 business awards.

Alan Hardwick - Workshop, Sales & Accordion Department

An extremely talented multi instrumentalist, Alan Hardwick is a valuable part time member of staff in our repairs and accordion departments and also works part time with our sales team, Alan can tap on his many years of musical experience to offer invaluable advice to our customers. D/G Melodeon, B/C button accordion, guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin are amongst the instruments that Alan plays. You can make an appointment to see Alan during one of his days at the shop.

As a left handed player, he can also get a tune out of a right handed banjo or guitar ‘upside down’, but amazingly he plays squeezeboxes right handed!

Alan’s musical career spans almost forty years playing English music with the ‘Moon and Castle’ band, jazz, country, American old-time with ‘Harpers Ferry Ramblers’ and the ‘Original Preservation String Band’ and Irish music with ‘Eavesdropper’, ‘Irish Nite’ and the ‘Elmet Border Band’. He has played fiddle and D/G melodeon for the Colne Royal Morris dancers, played guitar, banjo and mandolin in a country band and plays B/C button accordion and tenor banjo regularly with his present celidh band ‘Phoenix’. Alan love for music also finds him as a regular attender at local music sessions in the Yorkshire area.

In his early days, Alan’s spare time was spent at Arthur Hunt’s instrument repair workshop at North Street, Leeds. As a musician and later as the owner of a fine craft furniture making business, instrument set-up and repairs were natural progressions for Alan. His skills and knowledge are a great asset to our company. Nothing is behond Alan’s skills in our workshop as he heads our team carrying out set-ups and repairs on all manner of instruments …If you break your neck, Alan can fix it.

Tim Howard - Teaching & Demonstration

Tim is a highly talented musician specialising on stringed instruments, His modesty relative to his multi instrumental talent is a pleasure to witness. Tim can give you the inspiration and advice that you need on how to get the best out of your instrument. He is enthusiastic at all times to pass on his knowledge whether you are an absolute beginner or a seasoned professional. Tim's association with Eagle Music Shop brings many years of professional musician experience. Contact us for teaching details.

Tim is one of the most respected bluegrass banjo and pedal steel players in the UK, he also plays mandolin, guitar and dobro to a high standard. Over the past twenty years, Tim has gained enviable respect playing bluegrass, American folk and country music whilst working both as a performer and session artist. He has toured extensively in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Israel.

In 1988 he joined the award winning country outfit ‘The Stu Page Band’. He has worked with the cream of the UK’s country acts and also with several US performers including Kinky Friedman, Linda Cassidy with British Country music Veterans “West Virginia” he has supported the likes of Jim Glaser, Dan Seals, Billy Joe Spears, and Joe Ely. By 1994 Tim had worked with and supported other world class artists including Albert lee, Bill Keith, and the legendary Charlie Louvin. He also performed for four years playing 5-string banjo with the infamous Hillbilly Cabaret Band “The Muldoon Brothers”.

In 2002 Tim was commissioned an ‘Honorary Kentucky Colonel’ In recognition of his knowledge of the ‘Bluegrass State’ and it’s music.

In 2004 Tim played steel guitar & dobro on top UK country artist Gerry Ford’s album “One More Time” recorded at the Oasis Studios in Kings Lynn, this album went on to win ‘album and single of the year’ at the 2005 British country music awards. Tim is regarded by many as one the finest pedal steel & dobro players in the UK and finds himself in regular demand as a multi-instrumental, session and live player at recording studios and traditional music venues throughout the UK. He was invited to play at the 2005 Irish Steel Guitar festival held at the Europa Hotel, Drogheda. His performance was very well received.

He is working to date as a semi professional musician fronting bluegrass & country band “The Howard Brothers” and also plays lead guitar with contemporary band “The Snapp”. Recently he has also embarked on a Bluegrass project playing 5-string banjo with former all Ireland fiddle champion Davy Duffy …and still finds the time to run a busy Bluegrass/Roots session on the last Tuesday of every month at ‘The Brewers Pride’ in Ossett, West Yorkshire!

Jim Bergin - Workshop and Repairs

Jimmy made his first guitar at the age of thirteen and has continued with his passion for instrument repair and renovation throughout his musical career. A fine singer and entertainer, Jimmy is well known and liked for his jolly personality in local sessions and traditional music bands. Jimmy also plays guitar, harmonica and tenor banjo.

Emma McNab - Reception & Administration

Emma is a valuable member of our staff working on administration, internet and mail order sales. If you meet her at the shop, she is the first person to offer you a cup of tea or coffee!

Emma comes from the musical McNab family and is proud to be the daughter of Paul McNab the founder and owner of Paulman Guitars. Emma has learned about guitars and the jargon of music from an early age!

Sean  Jessop - Warehouse & Dispatch

Our newest member of staff joined us in 2008 ... Sean ensures that your internet/mail order instrument will arrive with you well packed and in 'tip top' condition. Sean has worked in the music business for a number of years learning the skills of the trade. You may have met Sean in his earlier years when he worked for the 'Williams' group. Sean's part time musical passtimes include listenning to modern music and playing drums.

 Bret Mc Donagh - Warehouse & Dispatch 

Young and energetic is how we describe Bret …and if you could get a tune out of a cricket bat, Bret would! Bret will guarantee that your internet or mail order instrument order will be packed very carefully and reach you in pristine condition.

Other Members of The Eagle Music Shop Team…

The Eagle Music Shop service and repair team are second to none, we are also working very closely with some of Britain and Ireland’s finest instrument builders and craftsmen.

Part time staff and festival helpers at Eagle Music Shop are also chosen for their musical ability and knowledge, they also bring to Eagle Music Shop a wealth of musical experience.