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Devils Den - Alive & Picking

We started a resident band, Devils Den, made up of friends of long standing:- Ray Tassie, Mandolin. Richard Hook, Guitar. Dave Smith, Guitar and Mike Flood, Bass.
All have been in bands since the late 50’s early 60’s, The Hickory Nuts, The Folkvendors, Tamarisk, Plastic Bukitt, Wild Oats, and Deep River to mention a few. During the 90’s other things took priority and enthusiasm slipped. There have been a few changes due to illness and house moves. A new line up and a change of name –

The Grass Hoppers Ray Tassie, Mandolin,Mike Flood, Bass, Ges Blackmore, Guitar, and

Adrian (Eddie) Greene, Banjo. As from November 2010 the resident band will be called Alive & Picking this is the stage we are at now learning as we go along, playing for fun and enjoyment and hoping others are enjoying it to.

If there are any fiddle players out there who would like to join Alive & Picking please get in touch.

Information :

New Venue as from May 15th 2010 check Contacts Page
Live Acoustic Music Every Month except August
Open at 8:pm start at 8:30pm - 11pm
What's On see page What's On
Always check when travelling long distances for changes to dates and programme
Contact Sheila on: email: sheila@bluegrass-plusclub.co.uk
Tel: 01424 893390
Fiddle Player Wanted contact above

to play for fun



Typical night with "Rattle on the Stovepipe"		Resident Band - Alive & Picking

The resident band, Alive & Picking - Ray Tassie, Mandolin. Ges Blackmore, Guitar. Adrian (Eddie) Greene, Banjo, and Mike Flood, Bass.

(see photo above) Fiddle Player Wanted

This is a new venture and started in April 2005 by Ray and Sheila Tassie, we welcome all types of acoustic music from bluegrass, old timey, ballads and blues to keep it live and alive. In a relaxed and friendly enjoyable manner. Always music has been there but during the 90’s other things took priority and enthusiasm slipped but in 2001 on hearing the sad news of the untimely death of Bluegrass musician Ted London (Henley Horrors) the spark was

re awakened, so here’s to you Ted (see photo below)

Ted teamed up with Viva Smith and Ray Tassie in the late 60's to form Wild Oats. Mike Flood joined, Ted then left to pursue his love of Bluegrass.

Derek Smith (who Viva subsequently married) joined, they were very popular during the seventies and eighties. Viva then formed an all girl harmony group

Dangerous Curves which was very popular until her untimely death on Easter Monday 2009.

Wild Oats made two LP's if anyone would like copies on CD please let us know and donations will go to Cancer Research UK in memory of Viva.