Backyard Burners
Album: There's A Box
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 14
Website: http://www.backyardburners.co.uk/

This wonderfully refreshing British bluegrass trio from Leeds consisting of Sarah Beckett (Bass and Vocals), father Mark (Banjo and vocals) and son Lewis (Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals and percussion) have created a strong first self-released album called 'There's A Box'.

Lewis is lead vocalist for most of the songs on this collection but as Sarah shows on the song Follow Me she has a strong country distinctive twang and it's a shame she doesn't feature as lead vocal on a few other tracks. There's definitely a Carter Family flavour to this but with a contemporary edge. The musicianship is first class with all instruments blending really well together. With all three members singing vocals on a lot of the songs this increases the variety and keeps things fresh as one song is always different to the next.

Apart from two tracks, Walk On By & Throwing Stones, the songs have been strongly and confidently written by the trio themselves. There is something different on every song from lead vocals and harmonies to the fantastic variety of instruments. It's not just bluegrass there's definitely more than a slithering of good ol' Rock 'n' Roll to their sound.

There's a varied balance of slow, fast and toe tapping catchy tunes. There's a very positive message in Lost Indian especially when they ask "can we all just get along" with strong echoes of the poverty and hard times people in the UK are facing in modern times. There's a sense that the band are passionate about spreading the message of hope not just through their music but also with their previous EP benefitting food banks.

Echo Round The Valley and Throwing Stones are good story songs and the listener can certainly imagine and create a picture from the lyrics being sung particularly with the descriptions of the weather. The addition of the harmonica adds a nice homely folky feel to the songs and it compliments the other instruments terrifically, none more so than in the final song of the album Closing Time.

It's not surprising the Backyard Burners are playing for bigger audiences than their early street corner performances. They certainly have honed their skills well and I can't wait for new material and their next album release.

Craig Parry