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Sunday, July 20, 2014
Hi All,
I've just returned home from the Yorkshire Dales Bluegrass Festival In the UK. I had a great weekend picking with my bandmates, Im really enjoying playing with those guys at the moment, we had a really turbulent first half of 2014 after two members walked out leaving us with no Guitar, Mandolin or tennor vocal, some personnel changes have really freshened up the band and this has had a really positive effect on my picking.
Whilst in the Yorkshire Dales I had the great fortune to meet with the Hangout's own Bruno van Hoek who had travelled all the way from Holland to the UK to play the festival. Bruno gave me the opportunity to help him deliver his workshop during the festival and also allowed me to pick his monster of an RB-1 which made my weekend - Bruno, your banjo is a bear!!!!
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downcountyboys.com
Playing Since: 2007
Experience Level: Purty Good
Interests:
[Teaching] [Jamming] [Socializing] [Helping]
Occupation: PCV Driving Instructor
Gender: Male
Age: 38
My Instruments:
Prucha fall in love,
Huber Lancaster,
Goodtime "Leader" model,
1970s maple Ibanez which belonged to the late Jim Irvine.
Favorite Bands/Musicians:
Earl Scruggs, Terry Baucom, Ron Block, Jim Mills, Sammy Shelor, Scott Vestal, Steve Dilling, J.D.Crowe, Bill Forster, Kristin Scott Benson, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, AKUS, Lonesome River Band, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, IIIrd Tyme Out, Blue Highway, Country Gentlemen, G'runs and Roses.
Classified Rating: not rated
Rate this Member
Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 11/25/2008
Last Visit 3/18/2022
I grew up right in the centre of the British Bluegrass scene, my father Mick Cooper has played in the Down County Boys for as long as I can remember. I started to pick bluegrass guitar at a very early age (about 3-4) which I continued to do into my early teens, when I was seduced by the dark side and began to play electric rock guitar. I have always wanted to try banjo and early last year (2007) I got the opportunity to borrow an old openback 5string that a friend had hanging on his study wall, this was an opportunity I took with both hands. within a few hours of getting the old thing home, the banjo bug had bitten and I mean HARD!!!!!!
Fortunately I had the benifit of the help and guidance of Alan Pearce, an old friend of my family who many years ago had played banjo in a band with my dad. In my opinion Alan is one of; if not the best banjo pickers in Britain and is certainly the most authentic sounding picker this side of the pond. With Alan's help I have progressed quickly and hope to emulate the authenticity of his playing.
In summer 2007 I purchaced my first banjo from a music shop in Runcorn near Liverpool, England.
I am absolutely thrilled with the tone and volume I get from my banjo.
Early in 2009 I was awarded a place in the multi-award winning British Bluegrass band The Down County Boys, which is a framework I seem to be doing very well within; learning tonnes of things and having lots of fun whilst im at it! Soon after I bought a new Huber Lancaster which is now my main Banjo.
