By Jean Brandon

Foto right: Dave Bresnen

Concerts: 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |

What with writing up these concerts every year, it becomes difficult finding new things to say, so I reckon it's best if you refer to previous accounts for the general ideas. But different this year was the introduction of popular, newly-elected BBMA Chairman Dave "Frets Old and New" Bresnen, who then introduced the concerts.

Derek had a hard time with the photos because the little flash on the digital camera was totally inadequate beyond a few feet. So the pix needed a lot of colour work. The real film is still in the real camera...

That difficult first spot this time was the 4-piece Home Made Jam from Edinburgh,over the border in Scotland, with a line-up of Betty Cooper (guitar/lead vocals), Mairi Murison (bassist/vocals), Cameron Oliphant (banjo, vocals) and Ray Prior (fiddle). They opened up in energetic style with Foggy Mountain Top, followed by Memories with a nice plaintive fiddle solo and a good job on lead vocal by Betty. I felt that it would flesh out the vocals if the men sang harmony on some numbers.

But they were obviously enjoying themselves and work well together. When introducing the next song, Midnight Train, Betty made the observation "We thought of coming by Virgin Trains, but didn't want to be late because they don't go all the way!" Cameron (like most banjo players) didn't smile once during the set (at least, I didn't catch him doing it!)

Further offerings included a slow version of Banjo On My Knee (the jury is still out on that one) and an up-tempo version of Blue Ridge Mountain Home. Walls of Time was dedicated to onetime bandleader leader and Betty's husband, Russell Cooper. Sadly, he is no longer with us (Russell's Obituary).

Home Made Jam

Halleluja! I'm Ready To Go and a medley of fiddle tunes featuring Ray Prior, led to their finishing with their final, namesake number, Home Made Jam.

A great set considering that they were duelling with the sound system some of the time.

Second on was 6-piece Birmingham group Toy Hearts, comprising Howard Gregory (fiddle), Bob Boucher (double bass), Hannah Johnson (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Sophia Johnson (vocals, lead guitar), Stewart Johnson (dobro, banjo) and Jamie Fekete (mandolin).

Above: The Toy Hearts
Right Stuart Johnson

Apart from bandleader Stuart Johnson this was a young line-up, with his two daughters Sophia and Hannah sharing most of the vocals. They gave us a good mix of material from different disciplines but nothing that you (or I, rather!) would really call Bluegrass. Having said that I enjoyed their treatment of the songs, which they did with verve and style. Their set included some Country style songs, including What'll You Do About Me ( 'grassed up' with lots of energy), several Elvis numbers (Bayou Grass!) and a couple of Rhonda Vincent songs, including a real 'bluegrassy' Driving Nails In My Coffin with 'hard as nails' banjo from Stuart. Lonesome Wind Blues and a sort of old timey mountain blues (Doc Boggs style) allowed Howard Gregory to shine on the fiddle with a wailing, double stopping break. Mr. Man in The Moon was a lovely lonesome love song with the banjo player on dobro to great effect.

Hannah and sister Sophie

Lead vocalist Hannah isn't only young and pretty; she has a great voice, which she uses well, singing from her heart. She was very ably supported by her sister Sophie on harmony vocals, with solid underpinning bass and mandolin. They were good to watch too; lots of 'Blue-Petering' (see footnote) and the banjo player be-bopping around while producing some good banjo breaks. Stuart's facial expressions whilst playing the Banjo had to be seen to be believed - he chewed his way through everything just like Bill Forster! Are they related? (Article w/Bill Forster)

I thought the instrumental work was excellent, with Sophie giving us some good, punchy guitar breaks with excellent backing from bass and mandolin. I can see why they are in demand at festivals; providing they don't go off into the stratosphere, (bluegrass-wise) I think that this band will go places.

The Deep River Band

The headliners this evening were The Deep River Band, with a line up of Adrian Farmer (tenor lead vocals/banjo), Gina Richardson (fiddle/harmony vocals), Terry Williams (guitar/harmony vocals) and Mike Flood (bass/harmony vocals).

Fire on The Mountain started their set, with some red-hot picking from Adrian on banjo. He also turned out to have a great tenor voice, used to advantage on the next number, Rose of Kentucky. He's in that small exclusive club: 'The Singing Banjo Pickers'!

Gina Richardson, Mike Flood, Terry Williams, Adrian Farmer (front)

DRB was a bit scant on the chat at first, but as they settled into their stride they began to relax and engage the audience. They soon settled down and treated us to a good mix of both traditional & contemporary bluegrass and country songs, looking very smart in maroon and black uniform outfits.

Among the offerings were This Old Old House (a ¾ time slow tear-jerker: "This old house will soon fall down and leave a memory") and Crying My Heart Out Over You. Introducing the latter, Adrian called Terry Williams his "...partner of 23 years. We haven't slept together yet, but there's always time..." He meant his musical partner, of course! The Flatt and Scruggs number I'll Go Steppin' Too was given a good old fashioned treatment as befitted a 'good old fashioned song'!

They did a lovely job on the gospel number Who Will Sing For Me with some rich, fruity, bass harmony from Mike Flood and a super cross-picking guitar solo from Terry Williams. The first fiddle tune of the set, America's Prayer, featuring Gina Richardson, was followed by a very fast How Mountain Girls Can Love.

Gina Richardson(below)             Adrian Farmer (above right)

Hugh Muffet's Rose of My Heart featured a nice key change introducing the fiddle solo followed by a fiddle version of Buck's Run.

The 'lonesome railroad blues' song Dark Hollow had some spine tingling, wailing, double stops on the fiddle. Incidentally, Adrian Farmer made the fiddle, his own guitar and Terry Williams', and all sounded superb.

Love Oh Love Oh Please Come Home finished an excellent very Bluegrassy set from The Deep River Band.

Derek complained that the sound people did a magnificent job in wrapping poor Gina in mics and cables, making photos really hard to get...

The only thing left to say is "Yeeeee - Haw"!!!

Jean Brandon, Chester

Footnote: "Blue-Petering": A term we use to describe the attention-diversion technique formerly practised impeccably by the three presenters on BBCs children's TV porgramme Blue Peter (back to text)

28th April 2003