After all the good reports I’d heard of this band I’d been looking forward to this gig and a good turnout was expected. In fact this particular Tuesday was the one when winter arrived overnight - I woke up to a White Christmas with snow everywhere. The snow continued all day and it seems that one by one regulars phoned in to say they couldn’t make it! The organiser told me: “It’s a disaster! Pete Ainsworth (of Stained Glass Bluegrass) phoned at 2 p.m. from Lichfield, saying ‘I’ll have to turn back to Leamington Spa - the roads are blocked!’ and John Prytherch phoned to say he’d had to abandon his car in snowdrifts. I’ve phoned the band to offer them a later date, but they said ‘Oh, no! We’re looking forward to it - we’ll come anyhow!”.

Just as I thought, come the evening there were only a handful of stalwart players plus a few ‘audience’. But, undaunted, the band played on! What a brilliant evening we had!

Ted, Pete Barry and Pat

The Britannia band, which runs its own  session at Upholland on Monday nights,  consists of Pat Lindon (Banjo, Dobro, Guitar, high tenor harmonies); Barry Flynn  (Guitar, Banjo, Dobro, harmony vocals); Ted Costello (Mandolin, Fiddle, Guitar, Lead vocals) and Pete Mackie (Double Bass, Guitar, lead vocals and bass harmonies. It was hard to go wrong, with such a talented, multi-instrumentalist line up. You’ve heard of ‘Musical Chairs’? Well, this band played ‘Musical Instruments’, if that makes any sense!

The Britannia proved to be a very ‘together’ band with a real ‘old-fashioned’ Bluegrass sound. There were terrific harmonies. The band had a nice selection of material, which they performed in a very relaxed manner and obviously enjoyed what they were doing. To me, some of the highlights of their varied programme included On My Mind, in which Ted sang lead and played fiddle mountain-style, in the crook of his elbow; a superb version of the fast-driving Del McCoury number Beauty Of My Dreams and Crying My Heart Out Over You, in which Ted played his self-crafted guitar, which sounded great, Pete Massey said “Pat’s Dobro really makes this song!”.

The repertoire ranged from regular traditional numbers like Salty Dog and Jimmy Brown The Newsboy to contemporary gems such as Steel Rails and Waltz Across Texas. The up-beat version of the ‘prison song’ number I’m gonna Love You Like There’s No Tomorrow really made everyone sit up, especially when they slipped into an a capella chorus in the middle. Great stuff!

A lot of people missed what someone declared to be “The best night we’ve ever had!” Let’s just hope that the Britannia Band will come back again - I for one can’t wait!

Mike Penney, Chester | Read the Band Profile | Top of Page |

Updated 23rd Jan 1999