Bending bluegrass strings
ATHY based bluegrass trio Bending The Strings have recently released their latest album, entitled 'All Keyed Up'.
The trio have been together for a number of years and are an alternative to traditional bluegrass.
One third of the band, Martin Cooney is described as "one of the finest Bluegrass banjo players anywhere" and also is the man responsible for the very first Athy Bluegrass festival. Martin stayed at the helm of the festival for may years and brought the festival back to popularity.
As well as banjo, Martin plays guitar and Irish traditional music.
Vinny Baker is the bands guitarist and first came to know Bluegrass when he played in the 70s with famous Bluegrass fiddler George Kaye and his band. That work with George was to leave a lasting impression on Vinny who has remained a loyal follower of Bluegrass ever since.
Moyra Fraser is piano player in the band, and is a well known traditional Irish and Scottish accordion and piano player and holds a Masters in music, and as well as performing Classical, Country and Jazz with equal ease. The band features the piano as a solo instrument because they say "it offers such a brilliant contrast to the acoustic guitar and five string banjo. In Moyra's hands it is as if it was designed only to play the great music of Bill Monroe, Flat and Scruggs,The Stanley Brothers and other greats of Bluegrass".
'All Keyed Up' features 12 tracks, including 'Bending the Strings', Daybreak in Dixie', Rocky Top', 'Texas Blue Bonnetts' and 'Black Mountain Rag'. For more information on the group, visit their myspace page.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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