About Bluegrass Junction

Bluegrass Junction is South Australia's premier bluegrass band.

The Adelaide-based 'Junction' comprises musicians who share a lifetime's passion for the music, combining exciting instrumental skills with strong, three-part harmonies driven by the foot-tapping rhythm of an acoustic bass. The band offers a tightly crafted repertoire of traditional songs arranged with reference to the original master versions.

The band comprises Trevor Warner, Nick Cawthorne and the Bridgland brothers, Geoff and John, with guest bassist, James Sked (note sadly Jamaes passed away Oct 2009). A replacement bassist has not yet been found, but on Oct 10 2009, Josh Verco played Bass with BJ. Trevor is three times Australian bluegrass banjo champion and a superb bluegrass fiddler, with more than 40 years' stage experience. Nick, one of South Australia's best bluegrass guitarists, drives the rhythm on guitar, complemented by Geoff on banjo and John on mandolin (both more than 30 years' on-stage experience).

Trevor and Nick share lead vocals, providing a refreshing variety of songs, and John sings tenor harmony to get that 'high, lonesome sound' that characterises traditional bluegrass.

Bluegrass Junction was formed in 1997. However, the band's roots go back many years. One reason for its extensive song repertoire and tight sound is the fact that Trevor, Nick and Geoff and John all have played bluegrass in various Adelaide band configurations for more than three decades. In repeated instances these four shared places in each others' groups before formally creating BJ in 1997. The result, an almost intuitive understanding of each others' way of playing and singing, is what gives Bluegrass Junction that 'special edge'.

The Junction prides itself on its interpretations of the great bluegrass 'standards' created  in the 1950s and 1960s by the masters of the genre. Songs from US bluegrass legend Bill Monroe (famous for his mandolin-focused repertoire); Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs; Jimmy Martin (whose famous teaming-up with Monroe created a legendary repository of songs); and Ralph Stanley whose devotion to playing the music live has lasted more than 50 years. Bluegrass Junction also has a special fondness for the tunes of Monroe's long-time fiddler, Kenny Baker, whose many instrumentals created musical landmarks as bluegrass matured in the 1960s and 1970s.

Crafting their interpretation of what they describe as 'the best music in the world', these musicians love what they do and it shows.

IN CONCERT! http://www.pbase.com/paultho/bluegrass

[updated May 2008]

Contacts:
Trev Warner: 08 8337 4200 or twarner@picknowl.com.au
Trev Warner's website
COPY/PHOTOS: John Bridgland: 08 8211 8766 jbeditor@senet.com.au