The Straps
A journey through Appalachians, bluegrass, old-time, gospel …
Influenced by the legends of the Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, Doc Watson and many others, The Straps take you at the rate of tones which remain engraved in all the memoirs: the melodies of farmers' families of the 19th century.
This musical style took in fact its origins within the Celtic people. The Irish colonists emigrated in 18th and 19th centuries in the region of Appalachians where they built farms.
They brought in their luggage their instruments and their music. They met in barns for evenings of dances and traditional singings: Square Dance. Then came the influence of the black people with the Gospel and the Blues. The mixture of both gave birth to the bluegrass.
The Straps mixs guitars finger and flatpicking, musicals interludes and the vocal harmonies.
The Straps are :
- Jean-Marie Giltaire: vocals, flatpicking guitar
- Jean Belmont: harmonica, vocals
- Jean-Jacques Druart: double bass, vocals
- Sébastien De Conynck: vocals, mandolin
- Jean-Marie Liégeois: picking guitar, banjo, fiddle, vocals
- Jean-Pol Boegen : washboard & other drums, vocals
Some references :
- Bomal Country Festival 2003
- Ougré Country Festival 2004
- Godefroid Luxembourg 2008
- Moresnet Country Festival 2004-2007
- Erpe Mere Country Festival 2004
- Indian Festival of Recogne 2004-2005
- Poulseur Country Festival 2004
- Turpange Country Festival 2005
- Hamawé Bluegrass Festival 2005
- Hannut Country Festival 2005
- St-Hubert Country Festival 1999-2005
- Fleurus Country Festival 2005
- Jalhay Country Festival 2005
- Cerexhe Country Festival 2005-2008
- Hamawé Roots Festival 2006 à 2009
- Ferme de la Madelonne (Gouvy) 2006-2008
- Westrennes Bluegrass Night (Bretagne) 2006 - 2009
- American Style Festival of Cambrai (F) 2009