Singer/fiddle player looking for band, W Yorkshire

[TopCat]

Hey everybody,

I've finally got to the point where I think “yes, I 'm ready to take the step of playing in a bluegrass band” so here goes! This may be a long shot, because as far as I know, the only members of the UKBG community who live anywhere near me are already in bands of their own, but you never know….

I’m a female singer looking to form (or join) a band, to play and sing some bluegrass standards as well as more modern stuff*. I’ve been playing fiddle for about 18 months or so, and I would say I'm at an early intermediate standard but coming on pretty well. I also play (rudimentary!) rhythm guitar and 5-string banjo, but my voice is my greatest strength. I can sing lead or harmony (an interest in bluegrass harmony singing would be a bonus!). My favourite artists tend toward the slightly more modern/newgrass/Americana side of things, including Crooked Still, Tim O’Brien, Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, Sarah Jarosz, Gillian Welch etc. But I like lots of other music, including some rock, blues and folk.

I’ve been singing out at sessions for the last year or two (and playing fiddle in sessions as much as possible) and I performed a couple of solo guest spots at the invitation of my local folk festival this year. But it’s so much nicer to play music with other people! My ideal would be to meet up with like-minded folk to pick, work on some songs and tunes and hopefully eventually play out at some open mics, festivals and gigs!

I don’t know of any other bluegrass players within reasonable distance, but I’m hoping this search might turn them up! I’m looking for people within about 10 miles of the Huddersfield/Holmfirth area, West Yorkshire. So if you play mandolin, banjo, guitar, dobro or bass (anything bluegrassy, really), live in/near that area and you fancy getting together for a natter and a pick to see how we get on, please send me a personal message.


Cheers!
Maria


*Absolutely NO Mumford and Sons….

[lewis_86]

PM'ed ya x

[Scouselad35]

Hi I play 5 string banjo, mandolin and guitar - I also sing. What're your views on folk music?

[TopCat]

Hi I play 5 string banjo, mandolin and guitar - I also sing. What're your views on folk music?

Hi there Scouselad and welcome to the forum,

Perhaps you could send me a PM to tell me a bit more about yourself and what music you like to play. If you click on my username it will take you to my profile page and then there is a section where you can click to write me a private message. Or reply on this post if you wish.

My views on folk music...
er, well, that's as long as a piece of string isn't it? I like some folk music, for instance LAU, Genticorum (Quebecois), and many others. But I definitely want to play and sing music which draws from an American folk tradition, whether that be bluegrass, old timey or what you might call Americana. When I sing at pub sessions or open mics, with just a guitar, it probably comes across as quite "folky" but with an American slant. To give you an idea of my singing, here is a clip of me at a session at Gower Bluegrass Fest, featuring many great musicians who are regulars on this board (luckily you can only see the back of my head)....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6rQ4CWDDxU

Since writing the original post, I have started a duo (in the process of becoming a trio) locally in the Holmfirth area, and that's tending more to be Americana than straight ahead bluegrass, simply down to the experience and background of my fellow musicians. I would still like to be in a more pure bluegrass project too, if the right people are available not too far away, and have been getting together with a bass playing friend to work up a few ideas.

Cheers
Maria

[TopCat]

Was it something I said?

Still, at least the rest of you are now up to speed on my progress!

[bigstu]

Was it something I said?

Still, at least the rest of you are now up to speed on my progress!

No - look forward to hearing more about your venture and, as for the video, you have very good 'pipes'

[TopCat]

Ha ha! Thanks Stu, you're too kind.

[Scouselad35]

Hi sorry it's been a while. How's the band going? I'm interested in American apalation and folk. Let me know if you wanna chat more about it?