Tell us about yourselves and what you do?
We are a five piece band based around the banjo duo of Deborah Arnott and Clare Neilson, weaving the bluegrass and claw-hammer banjo styles through our original material. It's a fresh and original sound that can't be easily pigeonholed musically, bringing as it does an unexpected twist to the banjo dynamic.The vocals of Deborah and Clare are marked by sublime close harmonies which at times can be both ethereal and warm, in ballads and songs deftly shaped by the intertwining banjos, fiddle, double-bass and drums.
How did you get together/start out?
Clare and I were friends as teenagers and lost touch over the years. We heard through a mutual friend that each of us was learning the banjo. We got in contact with each other, Clare was learning claw-hammer banjo and I was learning the picking, bluegrass style. We soon began playing together, working the two styles together and playing around with harmonies. Soon after that we started writing our own tunes- that was in 2005. In 2008 we started playing as a five piece band with fiddle, double bass and drums. Roddy Neilson joined us around that time and a little later Hugh Kelly came on board on double bass duties.
What is your current release?
Our new CD 'Maudy Tree' is released on Monday 10th Oct.
What is the best part of being in a band/song writer?
Writing new songs and seeing them develop, hearing what other musicians bring to the songs. That's a great experience. Developing as a band, learning from being on the road, doing a run of gigs together and hearing the songs grow, reaching out to audiences with your music. Learning about the business side is also good, it can be a steep learning curve but there is always a sense of achievement in every little step covered!
What is your most significant moment yet?
I think the relase of 'Maudy Tree,' as the band has progressed and developed their sound.
What are your biggest musical influences?
It is very varied, from Dock Boggs to Nick Drake, Gillian Welch to Gordon Lightfoot. I think the artists who have influenced us have had the gift of great song writing and being able to convey a story in a powerful way and with memorable melodies.
What venue/gig do you most want to play?
Smaller rather than bigger – intimate. I don't have any particular venue in mind but any place that has a good atmosphere and is conducive to communicating the stories in the songs.
What is your best/favourite song you have written?
Ohhhh that’s hard! I think Clare's best song is ‘High Country’. I think my favourite (Clare) out of my own songs is 'What lies beneath', written on a train coming back from the post-Sore Fingers Bluegrass Summer School and still on a high from it. My favourite Debs song is 'Maudy Tree' but there are a few contenders close on its heels!
What’s your favourite album of this year?
(Debs) Definitely Mike Ferrios, ‘Good Luck Mountain’, in fact my favourite album in the last 5 years. (Clare) Really enjoying Gillian Welch's 'Harrow and the Harvest'.
What does the next six months have in store for you?
An exciting time for us. The release of our new CD and touring throughout the UK and Ireland. Hopefully fitting in a trip to Europe!
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Another few CDs down the line, still on our musical odyssey and enjoying every minute of it! A tour of Canada and USA under our belt, Australia and New Zealand...and maybe venues phoning us for gigs?
What’s the best thing about Americana-UK?
It has a wide coverage of bands, well known bands and bands breaking through. It is really informative, has good touring dates also.
