Biography

Milton Keynes very own Bluegrass band, The Concrete Cowboys,  have been together for over 15 years. They  formed spontaneously at a mutual friend’s birthday party and just can't get rid of each other. They have gone on to develop a wide repertoire of songs which include artists such as Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald as well as standard country and Bluegrass numbers. They have performed at almost every venue possible in Milton Keynes, such as the Stables at Wavendon and the famous Folk on the Green in Stony Stratford. They have even appeared in a local guide book of the area. (People now ask for directions to them). 

Because of their distinctive repertoire this five piece band is well judged by their bluegrass peers, appearing at many Bluegrass festivals and clubs around the country. With addition of some friendly callers they can even do square or line dances.

Allow me to take a minute to introduce the band.

Mike Carne:- Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals. Mike is the principal Cowboy. Hailing as the Country genius from Cardiff, he manages to keep the band true to their cowboy values with his steady beat and dulcet tones. He has recently been accused by the press of being the "Grandfather" of the band.

Andy Powell:- Banjo, Vocals. Andy didn’t learn the banjo on his mama’s knee but he is closer to it than any of the other guys as he is the youngest. They also use him to check if the stage is level, by seeing if he dribbles out of both sides of his mouth.

John Farthing:- Mandolin, Guitar, Vocals. John has been known to look the part. He is the only person who doesn’t look out of place wearing chaps and spurs and that’s just in Church! Known for his zany approach to music he never ceases to amaze his colleagues by how far he is prepared to go in search of the Cowboy Way.

Richard Gleave:- Bass. Richard is probably one of the best lead guitarists in the business- that’s why we make him play bass, as we couldn’t stand the competition. The newest recruit to the band, but with the oldest musical head.

Jonathan Ginn :- Fiddle. No band in Milton Keynes is complete without having Jonathan playing fiddle. He was there at the start but he didn’t start playing with us until he turned up at a gig one night wearing the same shirt as everyone else. Yes the Cowboys respect the committed and some say he should be.

Delia Gleave and Sue Parsons:- Dance Callers. They grace the band when customers demand fancy footwork.

So come along and see all 47 strings in the band suddenly become as one at the many events that we play.

The Concrete Cowboys. The band that put the MOO into music and the ASS into Bluegrass.