It’s hello-goodbye at the Nettlebed Folk Club next week, as the Bully Wee Band return.
It will be a bittersweet appearance as the group are visiting as part of a farewell tour.
Originally formed in the early 70s by brothers Jim and John Yardley, the Bully Wee Band successfully toured Britain, Europe and America through several line-ups until the last one of Ian Cutler, Fergus Feely, Colin Reece and Maartin Allcock finally called it a day in 1983.
They got the band back together in 2004, bringing their blend of acoustic folk and rock music to audiences once again.
It was a chance meeting between Messrs Cutler, Feely and Reece resulted in a spirited jam session at Faversham Folk Club in Kent, and a subsequent decision to put a three-piece Bully Wee Band back on the road in January 2004 “if only for the craic”.
The 2004 tour was repeated the following January, only this time with the addition of Bully Wee founder member Jim Yardley.
Since then, the group of Ian Cutler from Feast of Fiddles, Hot Rats & The Wicker Man (fiddle, keyboard and vocals), Colin Reece (vocals and guitar), Jim Yardley (vocals, mandolin and whistles) and Fergus Feely from Sean Keane (vocals and mandocello) have performed traditional and original songs and tunes with a hint of witty banter thrown in.
But this time round, their visit to Nettlebed will be their last.
It takes place on Monday, January 23, in the village club on Nettlebed High Street.
For more details, or to book tickets, log on to: https://www.nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk/
