More to banjos than Deliverance

By Ben Holland
BBC Tyne contributor

Dan thinks the banjo can be used in any genre

"When I get onstage with a banjo, people don't quite know what to expect," says Dan Walsh.

"But then they hear it and say 'I didn't know it could do that… I didn't think it could do anything other than the Deliverance soundtrack.'"

If all you associate the banjo with is toothless rednecks, then here's a musician to dash your pre-conceptions.

Dan Walsh, 22, a graduate of Newcastle University's folk and traditional music degree programme, is on a one-man mission to re-invent the instrument for the 21st Century - and he's starting right here in the North East.

"I'm trying to get the banjo playing in any genre I like.

"Any influence I've ever had I try to incorporate into my banjo playing," said Dan.

Citing influences as diverse as Nubian musician Hamza El Din to Radio 2 folk favourites, Flook, through bluegrass stalwarts Blue Highway and, more bizarrely, online encyclopedia Encarta, the result is an eclectic brew hammered into eye-wateringly quick compositions.

Northumbrian influence

Dan says banjo playing doesn't have to be associated with Deliverance

"My first musical love was Paul Simon's Graceland album, that was my original influence," Dan said.

"As I got older I got into the Britpop thing when I was eight or nine.

"From there I got into blues music which led me on Scottish and Irish folk and then a number of world styles - South African, Egyptian, Arabic, Latin."

So where does the North East come within that list of influences?

"Before I came to Newcastle I had no idea about Northumbrian musical tradition so that's been a big influence.

"There's also a song on my new album called Egypt Cottage, named after the pub [on the City Road in Newcastle].

"We spent two years of the degree in there playing tunes."

Hillbilly stereotypes

Indeed, the impromptu pub session is something that continually attracts Dan, originally from Stafford, to the Newcastle music scene.

The nights also serve to counter those hillbilly stereotypes.

Dan has been told he's the 'best banjo player in England'

"I like the folk sessions in the city centre because you get the people who've come out for a pub crawl intending to come in for one pint and they stay for the rest of the night and through that they discover traditional music."

Not just a soloist, Dan also plays in various bands including funk folk fusion trio The Hundred Man Orchestra, bluegrass traditionalists Mother's Ruin, as well as accompanying top local vocalist, Kathryn Davidson.

With his debut solo album, Tomorrow's Still To Come, now available, he is looking forward to promoting and playing gigs and festivals both this year and in 2010, though few will compete with last year's National Forest Folk Festival.

Supporting cult folk American band Hayseed Dixie, Dan, playing with The Hundred Man Orchestra, took to the crowd to watch the headliners.

"Don Wayne Reno [legendary Hayseed banjo player] shouted from the stage, came up to me, shook my hand and said 'Your playing was absolutely great - you're the best banjo player in Britain.'"

And who are we to disagree with "Reverend" Reno?