ABLA have a good deal of experience to draw on. Of the remaining three founder members, Bob Winquist is the leading bluegrass fiddle player in the UK. Originally from Vancouver Island, he first played in his brother's country music band before moving to London in the early 1970s. Formerly a member of what is now the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra he earns most of his living as a freelance classical viola player. He has played in most of the noteworthy British bluegrass bands over the last 20 years. He sings baritone harmony with ABLA, a new departure for him.
Richard Collins is one of the top two or three bluegrass banjo players in the UK, and a good strong lead singer. He joined his parents' band Fingers and Co in his early teens, and later played in Grassfire before forming ABLA. He earns part of his living as an electric bass player in various bands, and on mandolin in Simon Mayor's Quintet. He was recently invited to play banjo on the latest CD recorded in Nashville by US bluegrass artist Sharon Cort.
Richard's long-term musical partner Gary Payne received his grounding on the guitar and in folk and country music from his father Don. Gary played mandolin and fiddle, and sang lead and tenor in Fingers and Co for most of its existence, and in the Orange Blossom Sound for a period. He later joined Grassfire on guitar and vocals before ABLA came together. A total bluegrass devotee, he runs two or three regular local music sessions and until recently was playing in two further bluegrass bands as well as ABLA, including Blackjack which he formed with his wife Sherryl. Many regard him as the outstanding British lead and high tenor singer, and his authentic bluegrass backup guitar is exemplary.
Both Richard and Gary tune pianos for a living when not playing music. Bob, Gary and Richard are regular tutors at the various bluegrass instructional weekends and other events.
An experienced singer and guitarist, Sherryl Payne was quickly drawn into bluegrass by Gary, whom she married in 1998, and she is now a stalwart of the British scene. She played bass and sang lead and tenor with Blackjack and the Lynne Butler Band before joining ABLA, with whom she has also now begun singing as a featured soloist. She works as an office manager when not playing music.
Alan Ward played mandolin and fiddle in both the original Bluegrass Ramblers in Liverpool and in the later version in London. He led the bluegrass/Tex-Mex "fusion" band The Armadilloes in the early 80s, and has also played English, Irish and American dance music in various bands on fiddle (and cello) and even 1920s-style jazz (on cornet). He replaced the original mandolinist in ABLA, Brad Johnson, in 1997. By day, until recently, he was head of curatorial work in the British Library Sound Archive.
"Although international (the original members came from Surrey (2), Worcester, the US and Canada), we have no particular connection with the Australian outback or with Nevil Shute. The band's original bass player was called Alice... (Advice to new bands: it may be unwise to name the band after any of the members! After Alice left, we had Sam, then Beth, and now Sherryl; but we're still A BAND LIKE ALICE.)"
Dartford Folk Club organiser Pam Colls says: "We are delighted to welcome the band to Dartford again. With five such talented and highly regarded musicians, this promises to be a very special evening of entertainment."
A BAND LIKE ALICE (minus most of the instruments!)
Bob, Richard, Sherryl, Gary & Alan