THIS REALLY WAS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT by Bakers Fabulous Boys at the Chester Bluegrass Club, at the Commercial Hotel, Tuesday 29 April 1997.

There was never a dull moment. From the banjo of Johnny Hulme we had the hard driving through John Hardy, How Mountain Girls Can Love and Follow the Leader, but we also had a delicacy with Stephen and his self-composed Pop’s 60th. Subtle and sensitive guitar work flowed from the fingers of Stuart Williams throughout the session, but particularly on Wild Bill Jones and Blue Ridge Cabin Home.

From Stuart’s brother Russell we not only had good mandolin rhythm and lead but also the spirit with which he imbues his singing. We had quite a range from his own complex lyrics of Five Hives to Booze-Grass to Blue Grass and his audacious rendering of Mule Skinner Blues and not forgetting special treatment of Too Hot to Handle (how did Otis Redding get in here?)

If all this was not enough we had the slapped-bass co-ordination of Lorraine Baker herself who, apart from delivering a driving My, My, My, complemented fine harmonies on Sweetheart of Mine.

Lorraine Baker, Russel & Stuart Williams and Johnny Hulme

This is a relatively new band which should really be formally booked at the festivals - catch their exuberance now!

This was yet another Chester showcase arranged by Derek and Jean Brandon and, once again, the visiting band was involved in good picking with the regulars before and after the gig.

We are even attracting youngsters off the street - at one point a small group of 8 year olds in the square, with faces all aglow in obvious delight and pressed hard up to the window, squealed with delight and applauded madly at the end of every number! Foreign connections are common at Chester, this time from Scandinavia and Switzerland - last time the visitors to the Commercial Hotel were from France. Who knows what high summer will bring? It’s no use, we’ll just have to get a bigger room!

David Brightmore, Chester.

Updated 23rd Jan 1999