[1] Born in Harrow, he first picked up the melodeon after breaking his leg at the age of eleven and was taught his first tunes by his father.

After entering the BBC Radio 2 Young Tradition Award in 1991 (which he didn't win) he gained some exposure.

Through that, he was invited to join the ceilidh band Phungus as cover for the main melodeon player Paul Nye who had been unwell.

More recently Rose has joined Faustus and Whapweasel, played in Ruth Notman's band, and re-launched his duo with hammered dulcimer player and fellow Kings of Calicutt member Maclaine Colston.

In 2009 Rose was nominated for the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in the category Musician of the Year, but lost out to fellow squeezebox player John Kirkpatrick.