M usicians get picking as the annual Surrey Mini Bluegrass Festival gets underway in Mickleham this weekend.
The small, non-profit festival, held on Saturday and Sunday (August 3 and 4) is like a party for a bit of fun in the village hall.
Concerts are held each day in the main part of the hall with bands playing around one mic, while picking – or jam – sessions are in the garden (in tents if it is raining).
Headlining on both days this year are Old Grey Dogs, featuring Joe Macilvenny on banjo, Bob McLean on guitar and vocals and Barry Ford on mandolin and fiddle.
Based in Corby, Northamptonshire, they have been on the bluegrass scene for many years, mostly with the well-known band, Out To Grass.
Joe is born out of the melodic era of the music and grew up playing in the style of Bill Keith. He is a master of the styles of Jens Kruger and Bela Fleck.
Bob also plays Kruger-type material and provides a fine accompaniment to Joe's banjo work, as well as adding his vocals.
Barry is a UK master and top of his tree as a mandolin and fiddle player.
Back again this year on both days is Chris Morton, who lived in Salfords, Redhill, before moving to Wales.
The highly-regarded flat-picking guitarist, who also plays banjo and mandolin, was five-times guitar champion at the Edale Bluegrass Festival and won Guitar Magazine's Acoustic Guitar Championship in 1996.
Also returning on Saturday is another band with local connections – Ghost Town Showdown. These days they are based in Woking, however Simon Roberts is originally from Redhill, while Colin and Phil Attrill grew up in Caterham.
Banjo player Howard Burton is back, playing on both days. He regularly performs with The Dude Coopers and The Broad Cut Drifters and has released a solo CD, Britain by Bluegrass.
Completing the line up are The Bow-Legged Skeeters on Sunday, plus other guest bands on each day.
Young musicians are encouraged to head along on Sunday when there will be workshops for banjo, fiddle, mandolin and guitar.
You're asked to arrive half an hour before workshops and concerts and before 11am on Sunday and to use the A246.
