FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 3rd 1999 saw us at the Millstone Pub, Whitley, near Warrington, for the starting concert of the weekend featuring USA banjo stars John Lawless and Steve Huber, Bakers Fabulous Boys and The Rainy City Bluegrass Band. It was a pleasant balmy evening after a very warm day and the concert was held in the pub beer garden in front of a good crowd.

John Lawless and Steve Huber (a cover photo)

Bakers Fabulous Boys (less their namesake; Lorraine was in Ireland playing bass for Sharon Cort) opened up the proceedings in their own lively inimitable style with Russell Williams (bass and vocals), Stuart Williams (guitar) and Jon ‘Johnny’ Hulme (banjo). They were in good form and created great atmosphere for the two American Banjo Meisters, John Lawless (proprietor of AcuTab Artist-Approved Tablature Transcriptions and promoter of Stealth Banjos) and Steve Huber (originator, manufacturer and vendor of the fashionable Huber Tone Ring). Their set was mainly instrumental with the occasional song from Russell and Stuart who backed them on bass and guitar. John Lawless was playing a very slim-necked ‘Stealth’ banjo with a black head. At times it looked almost as though he were playing ‘air-banjo’! The special feature is the hidden fifth string, which passes along a tunnel in the neck, in the style of the historic Barnes & Mullins Zither Banjos. It sounded great, but then I think any banjo John played would have sounded great anyway!

John’s playing style was quite melodic and he played one or two Old Timey tunes and contemporary pieces. Steve played a lot of his own tunes from his CDs and had a different style, Scruggs-style and more ‘in your face’ and aggressive. But both players were absolutely riveting to watch and a great foil for each other - they are, I believe, great friends from ‘way back’.

Russell, Bryn, Steve, John, Stuart and Jonny - on a balmy evening

To end the first set Bakers Fabulous Boys were joined by James Dewdney, who could, I feel, be one of the North West’s new ‘rising young stars’ in British Bluegrass, judging from his performance here with some really great Flatpicking! It was all the more amazing because it wasn’t many months past that we were picking at the same table with James and his parents and he had a long way to go. His father Bruce explained “It’s all down to an awful lot of practise and determination.” Yes - and talent, skill and ability, I think!

With more of the same excellence both from Bakers Fabulous Boys and the American Visitors in the second set the weekend was well and truly kicked off in great style.

Saturday afternoon saw us back for the afternoon performance by Appalachian Dance Team Mind The Step, who didn’t let the heat of the afternoon dim their energy or enthusiasm! This was followed by a great jam session in the Beer Garden, with The Rainy City, Dave Frets, Idle Frets, Almost Bluegrass and others too numerous to mention, producing some great playing and singing! The weather was cracker, adding to the enjoyment of a great open air session!

John Lawless and Steve Huber get off together

In the evening there was another Concert with the same line-up as the previous evening but this didn’t detract from the excellent bluegrass and performances by the bands. Oh - I almost forgot to mention - Bryn played fiddle for the bucket collections and threatened not to stop until there was enough cash in it! Money flowed fast....

While the jamming continued in the Beer Garden, John Lawless and Steve Huber were holding an ‘Informal Banjo Surgery and Consulting Clinic’ in the concert hall. It was good to get the chance to examine one of Steve’s famous tone rings. In the ‘workshop’ he sold and fitted a few tone rings, watched by small, reverent crowds. Among the converts was ‘Digger’ Dave Crowley, who succumbed and bought one for “My other banjo.”

It was great to chat to John through the weekend - John contributes the column in ‘Grass Cuttings’ so Derek had been in touch with him regularly on the Internet. To see the Stealth at close quarters was interesting - John explained how the short scale length puts the bridge near the centre of the vellum, contributing to the particular sound.

So another great success for Bryn - well deserved, for he puts a lot of effort into it. Bryn’s next venture brings banjoist Tony Ellis (of USA band The Musicians of Braeburn) for a short, repeat tour - see What’s On (page 19) and CD review (page 15) in this issue.

Jean Brandon, Chester [ Profile | Write to Jean ]

John Lawless commented: “The Stealth banjo I was playing actually belongs to Bruce Dewdney, father of James. He had placed a deposit on one and I delivered it. (Talk about service!)

He was kind enough to let me use it for the time I was in England, saving me the need to bring two banjos. It worked out well since my Stealth was in the shop at that time.

“Scott Vestal's prototype neck that eventually became the Stealth was originally built by Phil Davidson of the UK. He made it for Scott during Scotts’ trip over to England with Doyle Lawson many years ago. The basic design has been modified over time but Phil deserves his share of credit - at least for helping Scott with the design.

“The Stealths do not always have a black head. Bruce especially wanted his that way. You can see photos of both black and white headed Stealths on the web at: http://www.stealthbanjo.com”

John’s own website is at http://www.acutab.com and Steve Huber has a new website at http://huberbanjos.com/

26th Nov 1999