Could it be for real? “Bev Williams has organised a free picking day with concerts at a Planetarium”? Invitations arrived: “Free - Free - Free - Spaced-Out Bluegrass at The Planet:Earth Centre! Astronomical Picking Party! Sunday 17th August, 1997 Noon ’til Sunset” Curiosity might well have ‘killed the cat’ but this cat’s curiosity won out so we went to bed early on Saturday night (2.00 am) to be sure of an early start Sunday. We were warned “B.Y.O.B.” so several cans were organised in a cold box - a very hot day was expected!

The Planet:Earth Centre is half way between Todmorden and Bacup on the A681 (at 53'43" latitude N and longitude 2'9" West, we were informed) and is home to astronomer/physicist Linda and environmental scientist John Keegan (J.K.). The site is slowly moving back to nature and is a popular education facility for schools and clubs, etc., interested in astronomy.

Space-age hippy, Super-Picker  John "JK" Keegan

We were met by an ageing, guitar-playing hippie who turned out to be J.K., who handed out a free program, a Space Travellers Passport for a visit to the planetarium(!) (£1.00) and free raffle tickets for - an astronomy book! Being first there we explored the site and found the Planetarium (hard to miss), two scale models of the Solar System (easy to miss - one was on the ceiling of the Lecture Hall and the other stretched out across the fields). It was a beautiful day, but there was more than enough accommodation for picking had it rained.

People trickled in, many of whom I’d never seen (and I know most) - Bill Gilson from Kendal, Eric Pollit & Irene, “Big Bad” Bev’s Gang (Ian Reynolds, and the names from the past) - the Rainy City Bluegrass Band , Small Packages (Leeds), Ken Neilds crew (Oldham), Chris Wilson, and their partners and more - it was by ‘invitation only’ to keep undesirables out. Then the sessions started. A low-key pick behind the tea room attracted a goodly crowd as did a hotter session on the other side. A small self-help workshop organised itself in a tent and someone started setting up a PA.

Next the concerts started. First on (with PA) was Small Packages, a Leeds trio that didn’t play Bluegrass and didn’t join in jams. They were followed by a ‘Space Trip’ in the unbearably hot Planetarium, then by the Rainy City. Apart from Trevor’s electric bass the RCBB worked without amps and again the result was excellent - there was no problem hearing them. John Keegan and Bev Williams (guitars), with Pete Shaffer on banjo played last and the whole thing went off very well.

"Cosmic Background Radiation" play at sundown
against the backdrop of an unfinished telescope dome!

"Big Bad" Bev Williams ,  Pete Shafer, Ian Reynolds, Bill Degney

The defunct Silver Hill String Band, with surviving members J.K., Bill Hyde (banjo) and Pete (guitar/bass) - (John Williams has died, regrettably) - were there. They were once a ‘big noise about town’ in Milnrow - let’s hope they start to get involved once more in the music! Eric Pollit amazed me when he pulled out some faded photos of him playing with all these people. Grey-haired John Keegan had red hair in the snaps!

Unfortunately about 2 miles upwind of the Centre there was a fish bait factory, which prompted Ian R. to sing “I ain’t gonna work on maggot farm no more...” and I must say the stench put me off my food at one point. But it’s hard to keep good men down and, as night fell, a session continued full tilt in the Cafe and later moved to a pub and eventually folded at 2.00 a.m.

It had been a great day out; lots of picking and/or languid lying about, astronomical education and a Planetarium show, and almost free.

Rev On, Bev! Rock On, John!

Derek Brandon, Chester UK.

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Updated 23rd Jan 1999