Who's Appearing
Down Country Boys
We are privileged to welcome one of the U.K.'s most respected bands to Gower this year The Down County Boys hail from the Midlands and first formed in 1964. En route to their half century of playing and promoting bluegrass in the UK, the DCB's have proven to be outstanding ambassadors for the music. As with many ensembles, they have experienced a number of personnel changes over the past 47 years but the band are still dedicated to playing traditional and contemporary Bluegrass across the country.
Vocal harmonies are paramount in their repertoire whilst the excellent instrumentation of Pete Parker (fiddle), Dan Norton (Mandolin) and Chris Elson (Dobro & Guitar) combine to produce a most authentic sound. Add to that the rock solid timing, strong vocals and wonderful sense of humour of bass player Mick Cooper, together with the hard driving Scruggs banjo of his son Chris, the DCB's maintain a true quality in their performances.
Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys
Making a welcome return to the Gower since their emphatic debut in 2009, Thunderbridge have gone from strength to strength. From humble beginnings as a one-off musical adventure for a local fundraiser, the band have established themselves as one of the most exciting and innovative bands on the bluegrass circuit. Combining the tradition of a single-mic performance with all-acoustic instruments, blistering four-part harmonies.
With their presence at many of the annual festivals and the various bluegrass clubs that run up and down the country, they believe in promoting the Bluegrass Music to whoever wants to know about it. Be prepared to be entertained!
- Nick Girone-Maddocks
- Vocals, mandolin and guitar
- Martin Schofield
- Vocals, Dobro and guitar
- Brian Schofield
- Vocals, banjo and guitar
- Jules Bushell
- Double bass, harmony vocals and occasional mandolin
Chris Moreton
Chris is a very highly regarded Flatpicking Guitarist. He is less well-known as a banjo picker and even less as a mandolinist. Although flatpicking is his forté, he is almost as good on the other instruments.
Chris has been playing guitar for 30 years and was five times Guitar Champion at the Edale Bluegrass Festival. In 1996 he won the Guitar Magazine's Acoustic Guitar Championship against 160 opponents.
Flats and Sharps
Flats and Sharps may be one of newest names on the British Bluegrass scene… Oh but what a band! They started to make a name for themselves while buskin' in Penzance in Cornwall. Gigs soon followed and they went to Sore Fingers Week getting a standing ovation in the Student concert, a first! That got them festival gigs at Orwell, Didmarton, Cornwall and the Gower. Not a bad result for a two song performance!
They play bluegrass for the love of it and thrill audiences with their harmonies and the way they engage with their instruments. They say their "aim is to put a smile on your face, get your toes a tappin' and make you feel good".
This is only be their third bluegrass festival and you can expect to se them at many more in the future. "Absolutely fabulous" would be an understatement.
The Brandywine Cloggers
Formed in 1991,The Brandywine Cloggers perform fast and furious dance to Bluegrass or old-time string band tunes with fiddle and 5 string banjo.
The dance originated in the Appalachian Mountains You can not be sad with clogging and bluegrass music through many different influences. Those with workday boots danced in them whilst poorer performers danced in bare feet. Today the dance is more stylised and cloggers wear leather shoes tapped at heel and toe.
Prairie Dog
Prairie Dog is a band based in Bristol who play and sing a blend of self penned acoustic folk roots and country songs. Frequently using a happy combination of guitar, banjo and double bass they produce a distinctive style of their own.
Tracy Neil Elliss-Brookes is a singer-song-writer who has a varied musical history that draws on many genres giving his music an eclectic and rootsy edge. Paul Hill (Tall Paul) is a veteran of the UK bluegrass scene. His determined aim is to try and prove that the 5 string banjo is (contrary to popular opinion) a musical instrument. Paul's song writing combines the bluegrass tradition with a sometimes mellow folk influence.
Weeping in the Wash House
An offshoot of the 2011 Sorefingers scratch band Take Scratch, Weeping in the Washhouse (WITWH) is named for one Liz Taylor's original songs. All the WITWH girls are strong singers and songwriters in their own right. Together with gorgeous three and four-part harmonies, the band aim to bring their love of singing and performing original material to audiences across the country. Mandolinist Roger Jackson puts his unique and experienced spin on the band's vocal and song arrangements whilst Richard Embery's sympathetic bass playing provides the backbone that binds it all together.
The Hog Ranch
Another of those bands that found their feet at Sore Fingers Week making legendary performances in that high profile event, the SFSS Student Concert!. They have come a long way since then performing around the Bristol area and at many other Bluegrass Festivals. The Hog Ranch play a range of Bluegrass and Americana including some self penned numbers.
Roots 'n Galoots
The hosts of Go Fest since it's inception in 2005, R & G have played regularly across the UK and have ventured to festivals in Eire and France. Following their Didmarton debut in 2006, Roots & Galoots became a household name on the UK festival scene. Sadly in April this year their guitarist and vocalist, Bill Steele, passed on after a long illness. With his family's wishes, the band plays on to his memory.
R & G continue to pay much attention to their 3 part harmony vocals whilst their new line up features some UK bluegrass stalwarts including Bill's nephew, Jason Titley.
Combined with John Boston (fiddle), Martin Blake (banjo), Roland Emmanuel (mandolin) and Wes Reynolds (bass), the band remains an effective and experienced unit. Recent appearances at the Bristol, Wharf and La Roche festivals have included a new lively set with contemporary and traditional material. Who knows what the future holds?