The Vanguards

The Vanguards are a five-piece traditional bluegrass band based in London, consisting of Jack Baker on mandolin, Alex Clarke on guitar, Chris Lord on banjo, Laura Nailor on fiddle and Pete Thomas on bass. They take their musical inspiration from the originators of bluegrass music. Instrumentally, they seek to create a sound which blends the mandolin style of Bill Monroe, the banjo style of Ralph Stanley and the old-time style of fiddling which typified early bluegrass recordings and which continues to influence the sound of traditional bluegrass bands into the present day.

When not playing their original numbers, their repertoire reflects these musical influences. Their choice of songs strongly favours those written or recorded by The Stanley Brothers and Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, but they also feature several songs made popular by Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys and Flatt & Scruggs. Their particular passion is exploring and faithfully recreating bluegrass music’s many rarely-heard compositions, particularly those written by Bill Monroe and Dr. Ralph Stanley.

They can be contacted via their website. http://thevanguards.uk/

Blossom Hill

Blossom Hill-104 (1)Blossom Hill Bluegrass Band plays a mixture of hard driving bluegrass and contemporary music.  Led by the energetic showman Gary Payne, you are always in for an entertaining show featuring close harmonies, brisk and soulful melodies.

They have not yet recorded a CD but look forward to that challenge.

Gary Payne has played in many British bluegrass bands over the years including Grassfire, A Band Like Alice and (the UK) Blackjack. His high tenor voice is widely recognised in England, as well as his excellent rhythm guitar.  You will always find him leading a dynamic and accessible session at the BBMA tent during most festivals in the UK.

Lennie Harvey is a singer/songwriter, fine guitarist and dobro player who has been playing folk, rock, blues, country in numerous bands for 25 years. He has finally found his true musical home playing Bluegrass with Blossom Hill.

Richard Holland has played guitar for many years in a folk duo which recorded and played on National radio. For the past ten years he has found the bluegrass family and played banjo and guitar with the Lynne Butler Band, Contraband, Dalebilly and North Drive.  If you like Ron Block, you’ll like Richard.http://britishbluegrass.org/wp-admin/edit.php?post_type=page

Sherryl Payne also hails from the English folk scene and was recruited into bluegrass by husband Gary around twenty years ago. Sherryl also plays double bass for A Band Like Alice and was previously a member of Blackjack.

Hot Rock Pilgrims

HRP-10The Hot Rock Pilgrims are a five piece old-time/bluegrass supergroup featuring some of the most exciting young pickers in the South East of England:

  • Dan Edwards – vocals, clawhammer banjo
  • Hugh Murray – vocals, guitar
  • Bruno Pichler – dobro
  • Sam Rose – bass
  • Kieran Towers on fiddle

email: thehotrockpilgrims@gmail.com     phone: +447766658909 or  +447985369088

band website: http://www.hotrockpilgrims.com/     facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hotrockpilgrims

twitter: https://twitter.com/HotRockPilgrims     bandcamp: https://hotrockpilgrims.bandcamp.com/

 

 

Flats & Sharps

FlatsFlats and Sharps blur the lines between Bluegrass, Folk and Country, and have gained recognition for performing their own highly original songs as well as their renditions of Bluegrass classics. These five incredible young musicians honed their skills in more than 300 live performances over four years charming and wowing audiences along the way.

Their new EP “Always There” showcases their song-writing, vocal and playing talent with the lead track “It’s OK My Love” getting some radio play and the video gaining traction on YouTube.

There are four original songs on the EP as well as a Bluegrass version of the Jesse Fuller song Ninety-Nine Years and One Dark Day.

They’ve come a long way from their humble beginning busking in Penzance as 17 year-olds to performing on the Town Square stage at the Country 2 Country Festival at the O2 in London in March 2015. Along the way that have played for (and with) the Governor of Kentucky who jumped on stage to play with them, won fans at scores of festivals including Isle of Wight, Camp Bestival and many Bluegrass and Folk Festivals and performed for events for Ralph Lauren and Jack Wills shops in London.

With an album being recorded over the spring and summer in London and an experienced management team in place 2015 promises to be a breakthrough year for these five talented young men who have their sights set high.