By David Brightmore

It’s all a question of style - you’ve either got it or you haven’t. Chris Wilson (guitar & vocals) and Dave ‘Frets’ Bresnan (banjo, guitar and vocals) have plenty to spare, as they amply demonstrated at their Showcase at the Chester Bluegrass Club on 17th February.

With Frets Unlimited you get the complete package: quality music (pre- and post-bluegrass, and Bluegrass), stories, jokes and verbals, and a competence that says “Been there, done that - got the T-shirt!”

Chris “Snowy-top” Wilson & Dave “Frets” Bresnen

Dave Bresnan opened the evening with Glen’s Chimes played on his 1928 Clifford Essex banjo, as it would have been by Pete Stanley, who wrote it for his son Glen. They eased into the session with Waltzing for Dreamers and Ages and Ages Ago, with both playing guitars. More Doc Watson stories from Chris followed by his rendition of You’ll Find Her Name Written There. Stories are everything, and we now know all about the Duchess of Montrose (the train, not the Lady...) as a prelude to his version of  The Engineers Don’t Wave From The Trains

I think it was at this point that Derek B., in pursuit of the perfect picture and being teased by the jovial pair, lay prostrate mid-song at Chris’ feet, even kissing them, and the band played on! Or I might have been dreaming it! We had Hank Williams Came To Town, Muddy Waters and Some Old Day, with Walking Shoes to finish.

So, yes, we all enjoyed the evening in another packed room at the Commercial Hotel, Chester. Not only did Chris and Dave join the regular early pickers (which included Derek and Jean, Pete Massey, Chris Lee, Geoff Blythin, Tony Keysell and yours truly) but they stayed on for a really good, solid late session - so good that the Landlord didn’t stop us ’til midnight! Thanks guys!  | Band Profile - more gigs|

David Brightmore, Rhys Ddu, North Wales.

Updated 23rd Jan 1999