Old Hands

It would have been handy if I’d got round to reviewing this entertaining CD in advance of the Colorado-based bluegrass band’s recent appearance at the Galway Arts Festival. Well, you never know – they might be heading back this way before long, and in the meantime, aficionados of nifty flatpicking, close harmonies and craftsmanlike songwriting have one fine album to listen to. The group’s four members are apparently all well able to pen their own material, but they’ve devoted their fifth recording to songs written by their friend Benny ‘Burle’ Galloway, who also contributes lead vocals on some of the tracks; other guests include illustrious names like Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas and Darol Anger. Whets the appetite for more.