Original American/country/bluegrass UK?

Subject: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: Dave Wheat
Date: 18 Mar 06 - 07:55 AM

Hi,

Following my enquiry about contact info for Roger and Helen Holt, I had a number of replies from people in the UK folk music world. So I'm thinking that Mudcat would be a good place to post on another matter-musical.

After a 15 year haul in academia (culminating in a PhD in philosophy), I've recently returned to song-writing and performing. I'm a solo musician: acoustic guitar and voice. After spending some time in the USA & Canada (where I finished my studies), I got bitten by a certain species of country/bluegrass bug, and my guitar style has become that American-flatpicking-alternating-baseline-boom-ching kind of thing, e.g., Doc Watson, Jack Elliot. (I love this style as you can get a really full-sounding rhythmic accompaniment going for a song, and slip in some run-ups and run-downs between the vocal lines.)

Song-writing-wise, I'm blending traditional American country/bluegrass story-telling structures/themes with philosophical, spiritual and political ideas. (People who have heard me think a lot of my songs sound very "Waylon Jennings" in style -- though, to my knowledge, I haven't heard anything by this guy! -- something I must rectify soon.)

From surfing the web, it's evident that there's a big country music thing going on in the UK (festivals, line dancing and so on). But, from what I've gleaned so far, it seems predominantly focussed on musicians doing tribute/cover versions of country music classics.

Anyway, I'm trying to contact/network people in the UK (musicians, promoters, publishing & record company people) who are into the kind of American style I'm working in, but with the emphasis on *original* material.

Hoping I'm not alone!

By the way, I live in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Dave Wheat

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: GUEST,A Gradely childer listening to Owdham tinke
Date: 18 Mar 06 - 08:25 AM

Dave,

Ok, It has been a while since I saw this ensemble playing (back in 1998/9) I was on the sound or lighting desk. There is a bluegrass feel to their music. The Bushburys, is their name...also known as The Bushbury Mountain Daredevils. One of Eddie Morton's many groups, it might be as good a place as any to start. I absolutely LOVE their album "Brand New Day" If this does nothing other than make you listen to that album then it has been worthwhile me tying this!

Gradely Childer

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: GUEST,Gradely FORGETFUL Childer
Date: 18 Mar 06 - 08:50 AM

Forgot to post the website link for The Bushburys

Childer not nearly as gradely as we may have led you to beleive

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 18 Mar 06 - 09:40 AM

Your link dosen't work not so gradely childer.

eric

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: GUEST,Thinking of dropping the gradely all togethe
Date: 18 Mar 06 - 11:54 AM

Let me try this The Bushburys If it doesn't work this time, try opening a new browser window I suggest Mozilla Firefox but use the browser of your choice. Then type into the address bar, www.bushburys.com or cut and paste it or something like that.

The Childer who was lieing about being gradely sadly!

---

Link fixed. You have to type the "http://" bit in before the address.

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: Dave Wheat
Date: 18 Mar 06 - 01:24 PM

Thanks for your reply regarding the Bushburys Gradely.

Dave

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: Dave Wheat
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 04:40 AM

Found out from another site that Waylon Jennings was the theme tune guy for the Dukes of Hazard -- so I have heard something by him afterall!

Dave

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: GUEST,Picker
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 10:14 AM

Move to the North west - there's Loads of (excellent) Bluegrass/Americana musos lurking in the Mersey area :0)

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: Bassic
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 10:29 AM

Try these people. Not too far away from you and they were a friendly bunch when I visited last month.

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: Bassic
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 10:34 AM

Aslo there might be some useful information here .

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: Dave Wheat
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 12:00 PM

Thanks Picker -- but a move is not in my plans at the moment.
Dave

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: Dave Wheat
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 12:31 PM

Thanks Bassic -- looks promissing!
Dave

Subject: RE: Original American/country/bluegrass UK?
From: Dave Wheat
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 04:14 AM

Hope springs eternal