New Zealand has produced a few excellent bluegrass banjo pickers over the years and the current youngest, a teenage girl who calls herself BB, is currently touring the US, on the trip of a lifetime. This was partly funded by her prize money from winning the young performers award at the Auckland Folk Festival earlier this year.
BB is a very pleasant young lady (aged 15, I think) and she is a born entertainer as well as being a wizz at Scruggs picking.
Her mother is travelling with her and sends reports home regularly.
They arrived in San Francisco on June 7 and during their stay there BB spent about 5 hours in a shop called The 5th String - she was in banjo heaven! She also had a lesson with Bill Evans and met him again at Nash Camp when she was in Nashville.
They both thoroughly enjoyed your 4th July celebrations.
She also met and spent time with Alison Brown who they describe as the 'most well known female banjo player in the world'.
On 9th July they found a Bluegrass Festival that had competitions and so BB entered - she was the only girl in the banjo section, and guess what? She came first! She won $150 US which will help with the trip.
At East Tennessee they have been looking at the State University which apparently has a great bluegrass program available and it sounds as if BB is wanting to relocate. I don't blame her but it would be a shame if NZ lost such a talent.
So, if you are at a bluegrass gathering and run into a young girl with a big grin and a great banjo style, say 'Hi' to BB from NZ.
Robyn