By Bev Williams

So you want to know how to structure a Bluegrass band? The answer is simple; go and see The Bluegrass Brothers. As the smoothies of the bluegrass circuit they really have it all. Smart presentation and a show-stopping opening number followed by a blistering banjo intro to a traditional song followed by an original song followed by an original instrumental. Follow that!! And they do!! Slow, medium and fast, all effortlessly presented with such low key good humour that the whole audience is carried along on a tide of good fun, good music and good will. Ray was normally on guitar while Leo alternated between mandolin and fiddle, but Ray switched to banjo for a banjo duet to close the first set.

The second set built on the first with tribute to the Duffy's parents in the form of an Irish tune featuring harmonica and bowed bull fiddle. It blended seamlessly into the programme showing the close musical affinity of Ireland and America as performed by the English.

Alan West Robinson, Leo Duffy, Ray Duffy and Peter West-Robinson

An extremely smartly dressed young lady, Jill Barham, joined them on stage for a couple of songs before they closed for the night; plus the obligatory encore.

So, would-be pickers and singers here endeth the lesson. Here is the band whos' members are all good pickers and can all sing as showed by the four-part harmony work. Their instruments are quiet while the song is sung or another instrument is taking a break - Wonderful! And their phrasing while singing together is identical - Brilliant! It's not enough to know the words and the notes you should be singing. You must know the phraseology of the lead singer to make harmonies work and boy, do the harmonies of The Bluegrass Brothers work. Their singing is also the quietest I have ever heard, hence the title of this piece. There again, Bill Monroe didn't grow up with a PA...

Bev Williams, Milnrow

Updated 23rd Jan 1999