'KEITH PEARSON'S COUP DE GRASS' is an exciting mix of all that is great in Bluegrass and in Folk. Their music, which ranges from fast, dazzling banjo, guitar and harmonica solos to ballads of exceptional beauty is just a part of what makes them one of the most popular and sought after acts currently playing the clubs and concert stages.
The live show, presented with good humour, expertise and intelligence, features: - virtuoso instrumental performances, exquisite vocal harmonies, superb original song-writing, and a great deal of eccentric humour; in other words - entertainment for discerning audiences, especially those who like real musicians, playing real musical instruments. Each band-member has an individual style refined by a lifetime of diverse musical influences, which is one of the reasons why COUP DE GRASS are among the few Bluegrass-influenced acts who take their music beyond the insular confines of partisan, purist clubs and out into the wider world of venues for those who just like great music. Time and time again, at concerts and festivals, people come up to the band after a show and say "I didn't realise how much I liked that kind of music until I heard this band."
COUP DE GRASS evolved from a band originally called the Cross Country Flyers, formed by Keith Pearson in the early 80s with Tim Jellis and Phil Milner, after Keith won the Marlboro Country Music Contest. In 1989, World Harmonica Champion, James Darby, joined the line-up, seeking to form a hotshot Country Band, and the resulting mixture of styles gave rise to a new band called The Hitkickers. Over several years this unique band acquired a cult following among the more musically adventurous fans of British Country. Having decided to concentrate on Folk and World Music festivals and concerts, rather than C and W clubs, the band formerly known as The Hitkickers (and occasionally also known as the Bluegrass Gentlemen and the Left Hand Band) is now officially called COUP DE GRASS.
The melodic perfection and rocking-Country feel of their opening number - the classic "Orange Blossom Special" - wins audiences over right from the start with the irresistible way it showcases Keith's banjo-playing and James's harmonica. When you hear some of Keith's songs such as "Lovers Again", which you can imagine being sung by Emmylou Harris, you know you are in the presence of a class act.
Keith Pearson-Vocal, Banjo and Acoustic Guitar
Few artists can regale an audience with a tirade of hilarious, curmudgeonly banter, then bring them almost to tears with a self-penned song featuring the acoustic guitar, and then go on to amaze them with lightning-fast fusillades of spangling banjo-rolls. But one such is Keith Pearson, prolific writer of world-class songs, and one of Britain's best Bluegrass banjo players. Even as a solo performer Keith can hold an audience enthralled for an entire evening with his humour, voice, songs and virtuoso guitar playing. Having achieved near-legendary status in Australia, Keith regularly tours over there, doing club dates, festivals and TV appearances as front man of the latter-day, Antipodean incarnation of Treacle Line. He is now well on his way to becoming that country's number one Bluegrass artist. Keith Pearson first learnt his craft during the classic Folk renaissance of the mid-60s. Throughout the 70s, he toured, and performed on radio as a solo singer/songwriter, both abroad and on the Folk circuit, as well as fronting the original Treacle Line and the Right Hand Band. Choosing to stay with music, rather than Variety Entertainment, Keith eschewed the direction taken by some of his Folk contemporaries who abandoned their instruments to become stand-up comics or TV presenters.
James(Big Boy)Darby-Harmonica
Thirty-six years of live playing, with fourteen years of studio work, have taught James to adapt the harmonica to any kind of popular music: -Rock, Blues, Soul, Country, Folk, Bluegrass or pure Pop. The range of his versatility encompasses complex stylistic fusions, beautiful emotive ballads, atmospheric Blues and fast-moving Country-Rock.
Beginning in 1965, James was inspired by such pioneering British Blues acts as John Mayall, The Yardbirds and many others, which led him to the work of the Chicago greats. By 1967, he was one ofEast Kent's outstanding Blues harmonica players and a regular feature at Folk clubs all over the area. In 1968, James sat in with Peter Green's original Fleetwood Mac, at Folkestone's Leas Cliff Hall, and a year later with Alexis Korner.
In 1987, he won the World Harmonica Championships and was immediately signed by President Records to make an instrumental solo album. Written and produced by ace guitarist and producer, Ray Fenwick, it features the talents of drummer, Cozy Powell and pedal steel guitarist, B J Cole. The album, "Southern Region Breakdown" won enormous critical acclaim, a lot of airplay, and was compared favourably with the best of Charlie McCoy's solo recordings. In 1993, James was "poached" by guitar wizard, Tony Farinha, to join the superb Rock 'n rioter 'n B band -The Werewolves of London.
James has played on many sessions, such as: -the "Jamaica" album for producer, Mickie Most, the "Subaru Outback Whip" series of commercials, starring Paul Hogan, for composer, David Dundas; the sound track of the BBC film "The Merriehill Millionaires"; the "Gophers" TV Series and the 1989 Robbie Coltrane TV special. He has worked with TV composer, Bill Connor, and recorded with Rik Mayall and Jools Holland.
Andrew(Nancy)Noyes-Vocal, Mandolin, Guitar, Bouzouki
A fine guitarist and harmony singer, Andrew has been playing since he was twelve and has worked as a soloist and with several bands including, the fearful sounding 'Scrotum-scratchers'. A versatile and accomplished multi-instrumentalist, Andrew switches from guitar to mandolin to bouzouki and back to guitar again throughout the shows, all the while singing harmonies and calmly playing the role of straight man to much of Keith's wonderfully cantankerous satire. His low-key stage-presence is offset by a great sense of humour, and the dazzling array of stringed instruments he plays provide much of the colour, variety and acoustic authenticity of the band.
Phil(Tarzan Stripes)Milner-Vocal and Bass Guitar
Ace bassist and master of harmony, Phil is an experienced session player and singer, able to take on anything from Bluegrass to Soul, Jazz, Blues and even Hard Rock. Phil has toured all over Britain on the Folk circuit, and his credits include: - a four-month stint with the legendary Hellraisers Rock 'n Roll band and a record deal with Warner Bros during his time with the Folk group Halcyon. He has worked with members of Steeleye Spann, played on Richard Digance's 1975 album, and on the title track of Sidney Carter's album "Lovely in the Dance". He has also worked with Michael Moore, Johnny Silvo and Dougie McClean, the latter in a performance at a Hyde Park Concert in front of 15,000 people. Over time, Phil has played everywhere from India to South America.
COUP DE GRASS WILL BE APPEARING AT:
Return to KEITH PEARSON