‘Lewes Folk Festival - Daily Planet

You might think that you know what bluegrass music is, but, according to Daily Planet’s banjo player, Leon Hunt, the definition is up for debate. “Some people think that bluegrass music should be fixed in the original style of Bill Monroe’s band from the 1940’s. But others, like us, think it can be far more open and should be able to evolve over time”. “After all”, he adds, “it came out of a hotchpotch of jazz and blues and improvisation so we’re just sort of continuing the theme”. It’s a philosophy that has given the band a reputation for pushing the boundaries of fusion music. And the current line-up, says Hunt, is the most eclectic in its fifteen year history. “We’ve always had lots of different members come and go but at the moment we’ve got a really great Irish fiddler on one side and a fantastic jazz pianist on the other”.

So where does the banjo fit into all this, then? “It’s always had a bit of a stigma attached to it”, Leon concedes, “but people are starting to realise the range of the instrument”. Leon learnt all he knows from his idol and some-time tutor, Bela Fleck. “He’s the biggest thing to happen to the banjo ever. He actually holds the record for winning the most Grammy’s for the most categories of music - from pop to country”. Leon was joking when he asked a mutual friend to sort out some lessons for him with Fleck. “I couldn’t believe it when Bela agreed to give me ten days intensive training”. Daily Planet headline the Lewes Folk Rock Festival tonight. ER