Winship, Lowell, Hunt & Harrison
(more) Growling Old Men
Following
the hugely successful August 2006 collaboration between AmericaÕs Growling
Old Men and two parts of BritainÕs Daily Planet
theyÕre doing it all over again!
Two of the American West's best acoustic
musicians; Ben Winship and John
Lowell, collectively known as 'Growling Old
Men' will be touring in the UK during April 2007 alongside
two members of the UK's 'Daily Planet'. - 'A true transatlantic session'
Ben Winship (mandolin
and vocals) from Idaho, is described by Tim O'Brien as "one of the
acoustic music scene's best writers" His
evocative song writing combined with his effortless vocal and mandolin style
makes Ben one of the most respected musicians on the scene today.
"With a red-hot
mandolin for a heart... Winship's music is a celebration of range,
breadth and experiment." - Bluegrass Unlimited
John Lowell (guitar
and vocals) from Montana has been the mainstay of countless bluegrass and
'country folk' bands throughout the mid-west. Known so well as a fantastic
singer and solid rhythm player it's easy to forget just how well he can also
'flatpick' a blistering solo on his guitar.
This will be John's third trip to the UK - in 2004 he
was the guitar tutor at the prestigious week-long Sore Fingers summer music
camp in Oxfordshire.
Growling Old
Men sparkle with outstandingly original material, an irrepressibly-western
tinged groove, energetic picking and fine singing... I'm wearing the records out here in
Nashville. -Dave Higgs, WPLN-FM, Nashville
Leon Hunt (5-string
banjo) A former student of American banjo virtuoso, Bela Fleck, his exploits
with Daily Planet and in his own right, have been making waves on both sides of
the Atlantic. His trade-mark has always been a healthy disregard for the
banjoÕs traditional boundaries, experimenting with techniques and sounds, using
his earlier musical influences (both of LeonÕs parents are jazz musicians) to
ultimately make it a more versatile instrument.
"Banjo wizardry in a
style totally unique. Leon plays with brilliance and soul - you don't always
find the two together" Mike Harding - BBC Radio 2
Dominic
Harrison (bass / guitar) plays and sings with
an authority that few musicians ever achieve. Dominic grew up in a musical
family and his first performances were as a 'boy wonder' in the family band,
Strange Relations. Dominic moved to Bath in the early 90's to play bass for
Southern Exposure, a band led by North Carolinian singer/songwriter, Randy
Gambill Dominic and S.E. banjo player Leon Hunt went on to form the very first
incarnation of Daily Planet.