Biographies

Richard Collins

Richard Collins

Multi-instrumentalist and three time UK banjo champion, Richard Collins also regularly tours the UK with visiting American artists, and has even been dragged back across the Atlantic for session work in Nashville. He has appeared as both actor and musician with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and most recently in West End productions of Oklahoma and Dolly Parton’s Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol.

Apart from his consummate skill as a musician, Richard has reputedly the largest repertoire of self-deprecating banjo jokes in the world.

Simon Mayor

Simon Mayor

As well as a fine fiddler, guitarist, composer, producer and wit, Simon Mayor is one of the world’s leading mandolin players. His live performances are a riot of humorous anecdotes and off-the-cuff wit alongside dazzling musicianship.

Simon has an unequalled reputation in folk, bluegrass and classical circles alike. His recordings have been heralded across the International media from the USA to Germany, France, the BBC World Service’ Radios 2, 3 and 4, and the Classic FM Artist Chart top ten. In 2022, he and Hilary James became Honorary Directors of the Classical Mandolin Society of America.
> > Simon Mayor’s website

Hilary James

Hilary James

Hilary James may be best known for her exquisite singing, but she’s also plays the double bass, the mighty mandobass and is a mean guitar picker. Her superb voice defies categorisation and has featured everywhere from the BBC’s Folk on 2 to Radio 1 and Classic FM!

Covering everything from folk music to blues and swing, her six solo albums have been played on radio stations from Los Angeles to Latvia and brought an invitation to make a video with MTV award winning producer Dan Lebenthal in Hollywood. Her English Sketches album was one of the Sunday Times Best Ten World Music Albums of 2011.
> > Hilary James’ website

Andy Baum

Rumoured to be a laboratory experiment at crossing Bing Crosby with Frank Ifield, original member Andy Baum (‘The Yodelling Prof’) returns to the fold, as slim as ever and with tonsils in fine fettle.

Sharing lead vocal duties with Hilary, Andy also brings his unique driving style on guitar and mandolin.