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Welcome To Buffalo's Page
Back row:- Bob guitar, Mick bass, Guy dobro guitar Front row:- Phill banjo, Dave mandolin. This page was last updated on 22 January 2003 It all started with a phone call to Phill Morley
(banjo, guitar and vocals). Mick Ross (bass and vocals) and Dave Notman
(mandolin, harmonica, bouzooki and vocals) had been playing together for a few
years with a successful band called ‘Carry The Can’. They decided that they
would like to play a bit more bluegrass/roots
music. Mick asked Phill if he would like the idea of forming a band.
Phill was at a loose end (after his band ‘Chelmer Valley Stringband had
disbanded). So they agreed to meet and have a pick and see
what they could come up with. The pick was at Mick’s house and turned out to
be very rewarding with plenty of potential. More practices were organised and by
about the third or fourth one Mick suggested to ask Guy Simpson around to see if
he would like to join. Mick and Guy used play together in the band ‘Creatures
From The Black Saloon’ and then ‘The Invisible Men’. So Guy joined,
playing dobro guitar and adding lead and harmony vocals. More practices were
arranged and the band was really working well. A few gigs were lined up at
‘The Kalamazoo Club’, Crouch End, London. Things were working out fine but there was
still something that was lacking. It could do with a guitar player. Phill or
Dave doubled up on guitar but it was soon discovered it would be far better with
a constant guitarist. Mick and Dave knew a fine guitarist, not from the
bluegrass world, but then Buffalo draw their material from different styles of
music. Bob Smithson was their man, he also played in ‘Carry The Can’ as a
bass player when Mick had left. Bob is a very good guitarist and vocalist, he is
noted for his harmony work which is an added bonus, so again Buffalo had hit on
another gem to join their troupe. Bob picked up very quickly on what was needed
and he could also add lead guitar work and finger style playing. So now Buffalo was complete and they started
playing more gigs including a rock concert in the park at Stevenage (where they
went down very well). They were booked again at The Kalamazoo Klub and were on
at The 6th Wavendon Bluegrass Day, The Stables, Milton Keynes. In 1999 with Phill’s heart operation complete
the band had been busy, starting off 1999 doing a New Year’s Party. They
played the Kalamazoo Klub several times once they were support to Tim O’Brien
and Darrell Scott. They were booked
agin to play the 7th Wavendon Bluegrass Day, The Stables, Milton
Keynes. Little Paxton, Cambridgeshire booked them for their village Fun Day.
They played Ashby Folk Festival where they were received very well
although the weather was rain all day. They
were booked for the Edale Bluegrass Festival, which was resurrected and moved to
Rochdale. Just
recently they played a rock-a-billy club in Camden Town, London and have been
asksed for a return booking. Another feather in their cap is that they can cater
for Square Dances as Phill has learnt to call for square dances. They have a few
lined up for the year 2000 plus other bookings. They strive to continue in learning new material. They look forward to playing at clubs, festivals etc., and what’s more they enjoy every second of their music. Booking details Phill Morley 2A Langton Avenue, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 2BP 01245 264450 (24hr) mobile 07890 004114 or 07930 210292
mailto:mick@mjeross.freeserve.co.uk click on EVENTS DIARY & scroll down to EVENTS to see where are playing
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