Or as Derek B. introduced them, The Steel City Slickers! The group that beat us all there on 19th May 1998 comprised Steve Read (vocals and funky, beat up, wonderful old Martin D28), Trevor Thomas (Mandolin and Mouth Harp) (let’s see how Derek gets out of that...), Martin Heath (Banjer) and Chris “If It’s Got Strings I Can Play It” Lee (Stand-up Bass).

Well! what a good night! The small club room was full to bursting point before I turned up with three other refugees from the Skem/Liverpool area and then three quarters of the Britannia Bluegrass Band (BBB) showed up (but where was Ted?) so we had to stand or sit in the corridor.

Steve explained that he, Trevor and Martin don’t get enough time to practise together (where have I heard that before?) but yet, after a steady start, the lads worked up a fair old pace. Their programme included Salt Creek, Shenandoah Waltz, Old Flames, Cherokee Shuffle & Katy Daley. I was most impressed with Trevor’s mandolin especially as he told me that he hadn’t been playing it all that long. As for the rest, Steve sang lustily and played his own version of Tony Rice licks, while Martin and Chris played solidly throughout the performance.

So much for “Nothing pushed, pulled,
struck, strummed or blown”!!!

It’s a pity we don’t see more of Steve and his band but it’s a bit of a trek, I suppose, from Sheffield where they are to where we are.

Afterwards everybody got involved in a big picking session with the boys of the BBB and Steve played bass for a while before he had to leave for Them Thar Hills in the Pennines.

Come again lads, we all enjoyed having you, Great Show!

Chris Wilson, Skelmersdale, UK

Updated 23rd Jan 1999