THIS WAS ADVERTISED AS “The Last Bluegrass Event” of the ’96 season. The North West Bluegrass picking day held forth much promise of being different and it certainly lived up to its expectations. Organised by Bryn Williams and Tom and Dill Degney, it was billed as a fancy dress occasion. Unfortunately, some of us, me included, had forgot (or more likely lacked the bottle for it), but some made the effort. Stuart and Russell Williams (The Plankettes, on this occasion!) were particularly attractive as a couple of girls! Tom and Bill (The Prestwich Hillbillies) also rose to the occasion with superb hick hill-billy garb. And I bet no-one knew that Superman played the banjo!

The day got off to a good start with an Instrumental Workshop conducted by that couple of real homely gals, Stuart and Russell. This got everyone warmed up and soon several picking sessions had started around the pub. It was while I was picking in one of these sessions that Jean approached me and using all her feminine wiles, smooth talked me into writing this report. [My daughter is right - sex sells! Ed.]

Entry to the event was FREE and FREE beer was provided for all musicians and fancy dressers. This sets a fine example which other festival organisers would do well to try and emulate.

These picking-session type mini-festivals are a great idea. They don’t require the punter to pay a lot of money for concerts - what most of us want to do is get together and pick with friends of a like mind. On the day some people travelled a long way - Arthur Robinson had made a 300 mile round trip from Scarborough and Chris King one of 236

miles from Carlisle and they were only the two longest. These testify to the high regard in which the “Plankfests” are held and point to a need for similar events in other areas. If you feel that your area is lacking in this department don’t just sit there, do something about it!

In addition to the picking sessions Appalachian dance troupe Mind the Step gave themselves a good workout to the strains of The Bluebillies and to the delight of the audience which had gathered. It was a nice touch that the dancers followed the fancy dress theme - it made a nice change from the usual uniforms.

During the evening most of the pickers who were still going adjourned to the inside of the pub. Here a big session continued with more FREE beer. One or two people who had a ‘Mighty Hard Road To Travel’ had to leave as the evening wore on. Some die-hards, including the Brandon’s and Degney’s, stayed to the bitter end [Pun intended? Ed.]. It was a big disappointment to me that Linda Degney didn’t take her Bluegrass Bones - I’ve heard that they have become popular fare for some in Bluegrass circles!

I’m afraid that as a roving reporter I’m not much of a success as I didn’t take any notes on the day. If I have omitted your contribution to the events please forgive me. As far as I was concerned the day was an unqualified success which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.

Martyn Peters., Stourbridge

More Thoughts on the ‘Helsby Hillbilly Day’

NOT ONLY WAS EVERYTHING FREE but the dancers and the band were paid - now that takes some planning! Tom Degney had decided on this day as his long-planned Bluegrass Event, but combined with Bryn when a clash was evident. If we can’t sort these things locally, what hope is there nationally? We were very lucky with the weather, which was unexpectedly warm and sunny - it helped greatly with the success of the day.

People came from near and far - from afar came Martyn Peters (guitar, Stourbridge), Arthur Robinson (singer, mandolin), Chris King (singer, guitar), Bill Gilson (mandolin), Rick Hawley (bass, Leo’s Pick) and Steve Read (guitar/bass). From the North Rochdale - Bacup area came Eric Pollit (banjo, mandolin), Irene Atkin (mandolin), Christine Mannion (banjo) & husband Jim (without his bass!) and Wilf Burgess (guitar). Also present were Tom & Bill Degney, Roisin Browne & Brian Waterhouse (Rainy City). There were many local pickers including Owen & Paul Duffey, Peter and Stuart (all of The Secret River Band), Johnny Plank & The Planktones, Simon Duncan (banjo, White Lightning), Eamon Walsh (banjo), Johnny Hulme (banjo, T.T. band), ‘Digger’ Dave Crowley, Ian ‘Johnny Rebel’ Groves, Dave ‘Frets’ Bresnen & Chris Wilson (Frets Unlimited), The Bluebillies (on this occasion: Johnny Hulme, Roisin Brown, Julie & Steve Cross and Jeff Blythin) , Pete Massey (electric bass) and Derek & Jean Brandon (last 6 of the Chester pick).

There were picking sessions for all levels of ability, from people trying their hands for the first time in a session of similar people, to one session that left a patch of scorched earth behind! Irene & Christine played for the first time in a ‘hot’ session, to good account. Steve Read, who is well known as a bass player, is moving over to become a guitarist-singer. The trouble is Steve’s bass is always in demand, so when a visitor from Derby picked it up Steve’s eyes lit up and he got on with his new love. In his report above, Martyn comments on Linda Degney playing the ‘bones’. Linda is very good on the Bluegrass Bones, but still, no matter how polished the player, the bones themselves must be matt finished. If you don’t understand this ‘in’ joke, as a last ditch measure ask anyone who went to North Wales!

There were one or two of those very special Bluegrass moments, like when someone new to this stuff asked crack guitarist/singer Chris ‘Snowy-Top’ Wilson, dead seriously, “Hey, this bluegrass is great, innit? Do you know Stand by Your Man?”!!! And the big pub session at night started off with mainly regular bluegrass but became progressively more varied (how’s about After The Ball Was Over?) and with some quite ‘off-the-wall’ numbers that were hard to follow if you didn’t know them.

My verdict: The best N.W. 1-day event to date!

Derek Brandon, Chester

Updated 23rd Jan 1999