for what its worth..

US gothic alt country [eg handsome family/slim cessna/blanche/16 horse power.. etc]

is very popular with 40-something Brits of a certain punk folk disposition..

and the banjo is an indespenible force in this kind of morose and morbidly emotional/poetic music..

..but as to if any of us in the UK should try to emulate our favourite US music..???