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| The Acme Band web site
THE ACME BAND PEOPLE
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Acoustic Music,
Original Material, Bluegrass, Country,
Gospel and other good music.
Brian Curtis,
guitar and vocals
Bluegrass Unlimited’s review of their album Bluegrass Machine said that Acme "have discovered the deep dark secret of Bluegrass - build your act around a crackerjack tenor", Brian Curtis in this case. They said he was the "Queen’s answer to Jim McReynolds" His high tenor voice has been the hallmark of all Brian's bands once he had found his way into Bluegrass. He started out in the Jazz arena with a Banjo in the early days, then
was caught up in the Folk boom, before arriving into mainstream Bluegrass with the Down County Boy's (DCB’s). He then had an encounter with Country Music via Patsey Powell and the Playboys, eventually leaving and forming Acme over 20 years ago. Along the way he has developed an acute wit and an easy going informal repartee with his audience.
One of the most solid rhythm guitar players around, Brian can put a great sense of drive or feeling into his playing, what ever rhythm is called for.
Recently he has developed his song writing skills and has contributed several original numbers to the bands repertoire, some of these have been recorded on the bands CD.
Ron Stevens,
mandolin and vocals.
Ron also made his way into Bluegrass via the Folk scene, where he met Ray and Leo Duffy. Together with John Watson they formed a band, New Roads Bluegrass that lasted until Ron`s job took him to Coventry.
There he soon became involved with Ridgewood, a band that included Jim Irvine and Graham Sowter. When Brian Curtis then formed Acme, Ron, Graham and Jim all joined Brian and Acme was born.
Ron`s mandolin style is a result of the influences of his many USA friends who have helped him develop during his mature years, after laying the instrument aside due to business commitments for an eight year period. Ron certainly knows the music and plays it right rather than flashy. His work for the Heart Of England Bluegrass Venue is well known and he is proud to be known as Chairman Ron. He too has written material for Acme, including their first original instrumental appropriately named "Chairman’s Bounce" which is also on the CD.
Bob Armstrong,
resophonic guitar and vocals
Bob Armstrong made his way into Bluegrass starting out on the banjo, dabbling with the mandolin until he found the resophonic guitar. Playing mainly in duo’s, Bob eventually teamed up with Dill Davis and the two were successful on the club scene until Bobs move from the east to the Birmingham area where he joined Acme.
One of the few British musicians who has managed to master the art of the dobro, Bob is able to lift from the dobro sweet crying sounds reminiscent of dobro great’s Josh Graves and Mike Auldridge.
His expressive voice is used to good effect providing soulful lead and harmony work. Bob also makes some telling contributions to the bands arrangements and has been a major influence of the bands style. He too has written original songs and melodies for the bands CD.
John Allen, double bass and vocals
Formally voice trained, John quickly found his way into the Folk scene and was part of the popular Coventry based band The Troubadours. This band also boasted Brian Curtis and they formed a singing partnership that has continued across three bands. Johns next move was to cross into the Bluegrass scene with the DCBs on double bass where he stayed until 1983 when he joined Acme. In addition to his lead and harmony vocal work John has developed his prowess as a bass lead singer on the a’capella numbers that are such a feature of the Acme repertoire. John has sung with Brian throughout much of his musical career, and their duets reflect the closeness of harmony that is only usually achieved by siblings.
Bill Forster, banjo and vocals
Exposed to Bluegrass music at an early age he developed his natural talent for playing with a passion. In addition to playing with his local band, the Harrison family band, he visited the States at an early time in his career to immerse himself in the music. For over twenty years Bill Forster has been "the" talent of the five string banjo in the U.K. He can play flat out Scruggs style, melodic like Bill Keith, or in the more pyrotechnic modern style.
Bill added his considerable Banjo prowess and musical influences to the Acme bands sound in 1983. He is one of the most versatile of Banjo players covering a broad spectrum of styles in his playing which incorporates some fine classical pieces. He sings some lead, various harmony vocals and make some major contributions to the bands song and a’capella arrangements.
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