The Britannia Bluegrass Band have been in the recording studios recently. Ted Costello and Barry Flynn spent many years on the country music scene playing in the seminal British country band ‘Hank Walters and His Dusty Road Ramblers’. Hank now plays with his daughters ‘The Arcadian Ladies’ and when Hank was putting together a CD and looking for an acoustic sound he turned to the Britannia Band to provide the backing. The CD is entitled ‘City With A Heart’ and many of the songs have a strong local content with seven of the songs written by Hank and each of his three daughters Pauline, Claire and Lorna-Gail. It also contains songs by Hank Williams and Jimmy Rodgers. Although the bulk of the CD is by no means bluegrass, the Britannia Band did get a chance to feature two of their bluegrass numbers – Blues In My Mind and Beauty Of My Dreams both of these from Del McCoury - and you don’t get much more bluegrass than that. The CD is getting a lot of plays on local radio. Look out for it!

Hank Walters

The CD was launched on June 5th in a concert at the Dockers Club in Liverpool attended by about 400 people. The Britannia Band opened the show with a 40 minute set of their usual bluegrass material. Not many of the audience were bluegrass fans and for many of them it was the first time they had heard the music. The band proved to be good ambassadors and the set was well received and the band got a number of enquiries about their Monday night sessions in the Britannia in Upholland.

Terry Holland's Malvern Bluegrass Weekend
By Chris Wilson

This was the third Colwall weekend and the second that I had attended (I missed last year due to a doctors appointment) (Doc Watson - Ed) to be organised by that well known banjo player extraordinaire Mr.Terry Holland.

Situated at the foot of the Malvern Hills it’s a truly beautiful spot in England’s green and pleasant land. There was a more than adequate camping ground at the rear of the venue, The Oddfellows, and for the Saturday that I was there the weather was perfect. The meals from the pub were excellent and almost more than I could eat (almost) and there was a varied selection of liquid refreshment.

Of course we were there to work (or so Dave said) with some of us having to but there were plenty of picking sessions up and running. I managed to sneak off to watch the second half of the Cup Final but it was so bad it made me glad that I don’t watch footy any more!

At the back of the Oddfellows there was a large room with a P.A. installed for the evenings entertainment, which included such stalwarts as:- Gary Payne, Leo Shaw, Simon Fossey, John and Moira Wirtz as well as Liverpool’s answer to the Spice Girls, White Lightning. We had to leave quite early on so we only saw a bit of the Concert - it’s a long way back to Skem.

Chris Wilson, Skelmersdale.

And more on White Lightning...
By David Brightmore

The style, the musicianship and the singing were all impressive. I’ll get that in first before others reflect that this band has left Bluegrass. Yes, it’s true that their show content was not Bluegrass for the purists, yet the urgency, spirit and utter technical competence meant that this was a set to be remembered in the annals of Bluegrass festivals!

There were several points of particular significance. Simon Duncan’s banjo drive on Theme For A Passing Harmonium - that has been a personal favourite since hearing Irish band Patrick St. rendition some 10 years ago. Of compatible virtuosity was fiddle player Mark Cardwell who gave his all on The Devil Went Down To Georgia. But not to be outdone Kevin Dunne’s singing was solid throughout and his Bye Bye Miss American Pie was a real tour de force for the audience. I musn’t forget Brent, who keeps this band as tight as you get, on electric bass.

The piped entrance (a real Scottish Piper and bagpipes!) was a nice touch and when someone says “Malvern 1998 and White Lightning” I’ll say yes I was there and I’m glad I was.

David Brightmore, Snowdonia.

True or False - To be Bluegrass:

1. There has to be a banjo.
2. The bass must be an upright.
3. The singing must be high & lonesome (no folksy sweet/same note singing)
4. A snare drum is absolutely not permitted.
5. The sound doesn't change if the power goes out.
6. The new CD's on sale must be displayed at the end of folk / country / other.
7. Listeners will go stone still to hear the guitar break...

Updated 23rd Jan 1999