NW England and North Wales
A View from 'Across the Pond'

By Jack Hatfield, "No Angels"

Mini-review of  one of Jacks books

The Michael Reno Harrell and the "No Angels" band had a wonderful visit to North West England and North Wales. It was a fast paced two week tour. With the North Wales Festival at Conwy, the World Music Festival the next weekend in Wexford, Ireland, and several pubs in England and Ireland on the weekdays, plus six school workshops around Frodsham and Runcorn, there was little time to be tourists. We only had one day off during the entire two weeks. I took a train to London on my day off, to see the major tourist attractions. It was great that we spent most of our time in the smaller villages, meeting and getting to know the local folks. We stayed in Helsby, but took in Liverpool, Chester, and other smaller towns in the area. I feel we really got a chance to get to know the people, since we played the same area several nights, and saw many repeat fans. We were all impressed by the British knowledge of bluegrass and especially by their musicianship. It is obvious that bluegrass is on the upswing in England... many novice pickers.

I taught a banjo workshop at the Conwy festival, and was amazed that over forty banjo players attended. I did not expect there to be that many banjo players in all of NW England! Banjo does seem to be the most popular bluegrass instrument, or maybe I met more banjoists because that is what I specialize in, and they sought me out. Another thing that impressed me about the English is that they were not as strictly traditionalist as American bluegrass pickers, especially in the South where I am from. The English seem to accept the music on the basis of how well it is performed, whether it is progressive or traditional, or even if it is a mixture of styles. I was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the fans and fellow pickers. We were treated as if we were really special by everybody who we came in contact with. John and Gill Williams did a splendid job of promoting the Conwy festival, and the accommodations were excellent. We stayed in a bed and breakfast that was older than our country! I also really enjoyed the dry English sense of humor. It was a contrast to the cornball hillbilly jokes I told, which the English fans seemed to enjoy as much as the American tourists I entertain in the resort area of the Smoky Mountains which I call my home. I would like to thank everybody we came in contact with for making us feel so welcome in England. In the USA, the south is known for its hospitality. Well, the Southern U.S. has some serious competition from across the water, in N.W. England! I hope to return soon. A tour for me as a solo act, possibly in March of 1999, is in the works. I hope to get to know the pickers even better, maybe do a workshop or two, and get in more informal jamming then as well as see more of England.

About Jack Hatfield
Apart from fiddle, mandolin, and guitar Jack plays banjo, the instument for which he is best known. He runs a Bluegrass Music store in Tennessee, teaches banjo and writes books. His latest new book/CD Old Time Gospel Banjo Solos is receiving excellent reviews

It is available direct from:
Jack Hatfield, Hatfield Music, 325 Laurelwood Dr., Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
1-800-426-8744
Visit: http://www.hatfieldmusic.com Write to: hatfield@tds.net

UK source: It is now also available fom Frets, (Liverpool, England)

A Mini review of Jacks previous book:

By Ron Cohen

I just received Jack Hatfield’s book You Can Teach Yourself Banjo By Ear. Hey folks, this is just what I had been looking for. Much of the information in the book I have learned bit by painful bit over many years. I wish I had known about it long ago - it would have saved me an enormous amount of time and effort. Using the book and the CD included with it, you can learn how to recognise chord changes, learn to fake leads and backups (once you figured out the chords). I have always wondered why certain chords could magically substitute for other chords and sound so good and make me sound much more advanced as a player. It’s all in the book! I want to take my vacation now so that I can spend time with the book. Congratulations on the great book, Jack.

Ron Cohen, Golden, CO, USA. (rcohen@Mines.edu)

Updated 23rd Jan 1999