We are Derailed
About Derailed
Derailed are an acoustic four-piece from Manchester, known for rich vocal harmonies and creative takes on classic songs. Blending three guitars, bass, and layered vocals, they reimagine tracks from across the decades — from unforgettable favourites to modern hits and hidden gems.
Drawing on extensive experience in performance and musical arrangement, and the easy-going chemistry of friends, Derailed create a full, dynamic sound without ever straying from their acoustic roots. Regularly gigging across pubs and small venues around the North West, their shows are a mix of musicianship, energy, and songs that get the whole room singing along.
Craig Burgess
Guitar and Vocals
Craig Burgess has lived and breathed music since he got his first Fisher-Price tape recorder on his fifth birthday, spending hours recording anything he could get his hands on. That early spark grew into a lifelong passion, leading him from school and college bands to a career spanning music, creativity, and education.
As a founding member, Craig helped form Derailed out of an open mic night and a collaborative music collective with friends who shared the same love for performing.
On stage, Craig brings energy, warmth, and tight musicianship, combining rich guitar tones with strong vocals and catchy harmonies — all delivered a genuine love of entertaining.
When he’s not performing, Craig is a music and sound creative with experience producing music and sound design for major brands. A lifelong Manchester music fan and football enthusiast, he’s passionate about keeping Derailed growing, playing live, and bringing acoustic loveliness to audiences across Manchester and beyond.
Dave Cummins
Guitar and Vocals
Dave Cummins has been playing guitar since the age of 11, and has a distinctive fingerpicking style inspired by acoustic legends like James Taylor, Cat Stevens, and Ralph McTell. As a vocalist in Derailed, he shares lead duties with Craig and contributes to the rich harmonies that define the band’s signature sound.
A seasoned performer, Dave has been playing in bands since he was 18, and live performance is at the heart of what he does. Playing live is what he loves most, and there’s nothing he enjoys more than getting a room bouncing, singing, and joining in with the music.
Outside of performing, Dave is a lecturer in Music Production at university and has extensive experience in the creative industries, he’s an all-round creative, blending music with visual arts, a perspective that informs his approach to music and performance.
On stage with Derailed, he combines years of musical experience, a love of acoustic music, and the camaraderie of friends to create engaging, dynamic shows.
Mike Weaver
Guitar and Backing Vocals
Mike Weaver brings over 30 years of musical experience to the stage, delivering rich rhythm guitar and strong vocal harmonies that bring acoustic covers to life. Starting out on guitar at the age of seven, he has built a style that’s all about feel, groove, and complementing the song.
Beyond the band, Mike is a multi-instrumentalist who also drums, writes, and records his own music. When he’s not performing, he’s focused on family, fitness, and finding new ways to keep music at the heart of everything he does.
Pete Smith
Bass and Backing Vocals
With nearly 40 years of experience on bass, Pete is an integral part of Derailed’s sound.
First drawn to the instrument for its ability to anchor music through rich low-end frequencies and shaping the harmonic movement, he has developed a style influenced by rock icons like Geezer Butler, jazz greats such as Jaco Pastorius, and classic songwriters including Carole King.
In Derailed, where three acoustic guitars weave fingerpicking, chords, lead melodies, and the shimmer of a 12-string, Pete not only underpins the arrangements with depth but also contributes to the melodic contour, while adding backing vocals into the mix.
Passionate about reinterpreting songs in the band’s unique electro-acoustic style, Pete is also studying audio engineering at university after a career as an advanced nurse practitioner, and enjoys listening widely across musical genres.
