THE fourth Weobley Music concert took place on May 9 with a great line-up of bands playing to an audience of over 170, the event being sold out three weeks in advance. The concert was opened by the band of ageing Weobley amateurs, Alive and Pickin’, who played bluegrass, blues and country music to the delight of a growing fanbase. The loud calls for an encore had to be ignored, however, as the Remi Harris Project was next on stage.

What more can be said about Remi? Jamie Cullum interviewed him on Radio 2 at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival on May 2, claiming Remi was a ‘new find’ for the BBC. And, this was Remi’s 3rd year in a row with Weobley Music, where he always goes down a storm with audiences. This time his trio was joined by a percussionist who, for his opening piece, played the spoons, giving an eye-watering exhibition of an alternative use for EPNSA. Remi played his usual gypsy jazz plus some electric guitar rock and emotional blues. His professionalism and musicianship never cease to amaze.

Finally, the Best European Bluegrass Band of 2012, The Sons of Navarone from Belgium performed. Their programme included traditional bluegrass instrumentals and songs with close harmonies, as well as more eclectic music, including Abba and Don McLean. All this delivered with fun and humour, giving that essential close rapport with their audience. Programmed for an hour, they played for 90 minutes, and the audience still wanted more. Clearly Herefordshire must have more bluegrass!

This Weobley Music concert has been pronounced ‘the best ever’ and will be very hard to follow. As well as bringing some of Europe’s best gypsy jazz and bluegrass musicians to this little outpost of North Herefordshire, it raised £500 for the Midlands Air Ambulance.