Thursday, November 22, 2007
Bluegrass: a whole new world
This is not the first mention of my April trip to the 606 Club in London, where I was treated to an exceptional rendition of some bluegrass classics - by a band whose name I'm still trying to find out. I should give them a ring, really, and just ask - who the heck were those Irish brothers who rocked the joint? Headliner of the night was former Robbie Williams collaborator Guy Chambers, who was pretty good, but nowhere near as good as the bluegrass boys.
I'll elaborate: Until then I didn't even know I liked bluegrass. That night led to a flirtation that hasn?t become an obsessive love affair, but is fun for a quickie here and there ? then I was in the UK one Saturday in July, trying to drive down the M5 to Cornwall (with half of the rest of the population of the UK). The only thing that kept me sane, and off the A38 (which was probably even slower) was BBC Radio Two's coverage of the Cambridge Folk Festival, where the bluegrass was a treat.
That was it, I was hooked, and after a bit of research, I ordered a double CD called Flatt & Scruggs/Stanley Brothers - Selected Sides 1947-53: The Very Best of Bluegrass. Not a single track younger than 50 years old! To be honest it doesn't really matter which of the many Essential Bluegrass Collections you pick up: there seem to be a fair few out there. I couldn't listen to bluegrass every day but there are moments when a bit of rapid banjo strumming sounds just right.
That#s why the album is at number eight in my 2007 top 10.
I'll elaborate: Until then I didn't even know I liked bluegrass. That night led to a flirtation that hasn?t become an obsessive love affair, but is fun for a quickie here and there ? then I was in the UK one Saturday in July, trying to drive down the M5 to Cornwall (with half of the rest of the population of the UK). The only thing that kept me sane, and off the A38 (which was probably even slower) was BBC Radio Two's coverage of the Cambridge Folk Festival, where the bluegrass was a treat.
That was it, I was hooked, and after a bit of research, I ordered a double CD called Flatt & Scruggs/Stanley Brothers - Selected Sides 1947-53: The Very Best of Bluegrass. Not a single track younger than 50 years old! To be honest it doesn't really matter which of the many Essential Bluegrass Collections you pick up: there seem to be a fair few out there. I couldn't listen to bluegrass every day but there are moments when a bit of rapid banjo strumming sounds just right.
That#s why the album is at number eight in my 2007 top 10.
# posted by Nesjo : 11:18
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