Gig Report with foto: Idle Frets at Chester

Both have an extensive and interesting musical background:

John Prytherch started on trombone at school (Conwy Brass Band and North Wales Youth Band).  After leaving college took up the tenor sax. and played with one of North Wales' top rock hand throughout the 1960's on tenor, baritone and alto saxes, plus Hammond organ. His main influences were Georgie Fame and the Blueflames, James Brown and Stan Getz. John spent 2 years in New Zealand taught himself GUITAR (main influences - Jose Felieiano, Carlos Jobin and Wes Montgomery.) Upon return to U.K. he rejoined rock a band on saxes etc.

After a visit to the Edale Bluegrass Festival in the mid 1980's John became totally converted to Bluegrass music and in 1989 he organised the first North Wales Bluegrass Music Festival, at Abergele.

Derek (sitting in), John and Tony

Tony Keysell began playing Guitar at 17 with a Kent trio / Traditional country music in local folk clubs. In 1965 he formed a trio, the String Benders, to play Bluegrass & Old Time: they added bass and the band played regularly from 1966 to 1976. The String Benders played in the Bluegrass session at three successive British Country Music Festivals at Islington and were featured twice in the first year of the London Bluegrass Club. They made frequent appearances on Radio Medway, and represented the local radio station, in the 'Top Team' competition, broadcast from the Manchester Playhouse Theatre, on Radio 2, in 1974.Write to Tony

The group disbanded in 1976. In 1978, Tony and his banjo player, Brian Holness, formed another 4 piece band, the Chalk Ridge Ramblers, - playing for two years in SE England.

In 1981, another major personal change saw the formation of a 5 piece Bluegrass band, Down South, but Tony moved to North Wales in 1982, and took a long 'musical rest', until meeting John Prytherch after the 2nd North Wales Bluegrass Festival.

Updated 14th March 2002