Preview

If Daniel O’Donnell is the acceptable, brightly scrubbed face of British Country Music then Hank Wangford is its dark, guilty conscience! Hank has been "feeding from the miserable underbelly of country music" for over 20 years, inspiring others like Billy Bragg and educating us in the process through his acclaimed Channel Four television series’ 'Big Country' and 'The A-Z of C & W'. Throughout all his endeavours Hank manages to preach the art of crying and dancing at the same time - no mean feat! Even his most suicidal songs invariably have a jaunty jolly beat.

This is a welcome return visit from the master of mirthful melancholy, with a special show inspired by a journey he made with his son along probably the most famous road in the world.

Route 66 was born seventy-five years ago and runs from Chicago to Los Angeles passing through states, cities, and towns whose names have inspired some of the greatest songs in music history. Chicago, Springfield, St. Louis, Tulsa, Amarillo, Santa Fe, and Los Angeles are just some of the names made immortal by songwriters over the decades. Tonight Hank reflects on the geography and history of this iconic road as only Hank can, sincere to a point but not without a white line of the trademark delicious dry humour as Hank and the Cowboys ride the range.

The Lost Cowboys are :

Reg Meuross (ex Panic Brothers) who has been described as one of Britain's finest songwriters, and by Hank as 'having the best high tenor voice this side of the Atlantic';

Martin Belmont whose solo album, 'Big Guitar' showcases his superb acoustic and electric guitar playing, together with his prowess on the rarely-heard Fender six string bass guitar. His talents have also been used by the likes of Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello;

Kevin Foster is one half of 'The Rhythm Twins' (the other half now languishes in Skegness!) Doll by Doll and Los Pistoleros are other showcases for this tremendous bass player and close harmony singer.

'If you want originality, something that still has the bit and twang that drained out of so much country, about the time they opened Opryland - then there is only one man to see. His name is Hank Wangford' - The New York Times

Review

It was a welcome return for the Maestro of Melancholy on Friday night, and a good crowd found the band on absolute tip top form. From the hilarity of 'Do you Have to Throw Dirt in my Face?' and 'Another Can of Beans' to the beauty of 'The Wild Atlantic Sea' and 'I Want To Go Home', the band were firing on all cylinders. Hank, not only a great songwriter, travel writer, famously one of our top consultant gynaecologists, but also, as we found out, the leading light of the Nude Mountaineering Society (yes, really!), was in great wit. He's a man who, although he clearly loves country music and the characters who have made the music what it is down the years, also looks for the fun to be found in the tales of deception, alcoholism, adultery and murder that make up the country song book.

The Lost Cowboys are no slouches either; both as musicians and songwriters they provided some great highlights during what was certainly one of this reviewers' favourite Talbot nights. The wonderfully tight and melodically inventive bass lines from Kevin Foster, beautiful acoustic guitar picking from Reg Meuross, and simply sensational electric guitar from the giant Martin Belmont (how long since you heard the much neglected Fender six string bass?) brought every tune to life. Signed CD's and books flew out at the end of the evening, the band had a great time in the bar afterwards, and there are promises from all parties to repeat the experience in the not too distant future.