Blueflint

Blueflint are the banjo duo of Deborah Arnott and Clare-Louise Neilson.
Blueflint’s material is heavily influenced by Bluegrass and American Old-time music and they subtly intertwine the three-finger picking and clawhammer styles of banjo playing to accompany smooth vocals and harmonies in songs and ballads of love, loss and revenge.
The duo formed in 2003 and since then have toured extensively at a range of venues throughout the UK, including Come Down & Meet the Folks; What’s Cookin’ and the Green Note – London; the Greenman Festival – Devon; Cornish Bluegrass Festival; Loch Lomond Festival; The Grand Ole Opry and The Goat - Glasgow; Leith Folk Club - Edinburgh; Hootenanny – Inverness; The Lemon Tree – Aberdeen and the Showroom – Sheffield.
The band are recording a new CD at the moment, which Jim Sutherland is producing. Playing on the CD are an excellent line up of experienced and versatile musicians; Roddy Neilson on fiddle, Ian Stoddart on drums and Joey Sanderson on double bass, Craig McKinney on mandolin and Sandy West on guitar.
Radio appearances have included a live set on Archie Fisher’s ‘Travelling Folk’ show on BBC Radio Scotland in June 2006, and on Medicine Music’s ‘Medicine Show’ via Scottish Internet Radio. They also appeared on the Danny Kyle Open Stage as part of the Celtic Connections Festival in January 2007.
Blueflint released a CD early in 2006 which you can buy at Elvis Shakepeare Leith Walk, Edinburgh (This is a fantastic 2nd hand record and book store- www.elvisshakespeare.com)
Collectors Corner Record Shop, Swanston St, Melbourne, Australia or via our web site- www.blueflint.org.uk
"Drawing mostly from their own material, Deborah Arnott and Clare-Louise Neilson played what could very loosely be described as bluegrass-derived songs, but they weren't afraid to play around with the genre, exceptional harmonising. Their version of the old Elvis classic That's All Right breathed new life into a tired old warhorse."The Scotsman @ Leith Folk Club
“A female banjo bluegrass duo you just have to hear. Deborah Arnott and Claire-Louise Neilson are sublime as they sing ballads of love and loss.
Not since the film Deliverance has a banjo grabbed your attention. Mixing Americana with the melancholy of Scottish folk this is a band I'd like to see on the BBC's Hogmanay show.
Blueflint deserve your attention.” Rick Fulton The Daily Record
“The sweet-toned banjo duo Blueflint.” North Devon Journal
"Blueflint play haunting bluegrass shot through with a yearning sadness and soothing harmonies. Influenced by old- time Americana they have added a full backing band that play with them from time to time giving their music even more depth." The List