The Lawnmowers are the newest bluegrass/newgrass outfit to hit the circuit. Theirs is an eclectic mix of hard as nails traditional barnburning breakdowns, hoedowns and jazz and bebop. Underpinning the musical wizardry, particularly Dave Hellens (banjo) and Rob Long (guitar) is a slightly sef-deprecating sense of humour, subtitling their work as the "cutting hedge of bluegrass".

I first saw these guys as a combo at the 2003 Harrietville bluegrass convention and was surprised, and pleasantly so that at an event which is, for the most part, quite trad, these guys decided to break with the mainstream and play their music, how they saw fit, and their way. If nothing else, this commands respect, for within bluegrass orthodoxy the "thats not how Earl did it" chorus are never too far from the surface.

But on that wise, if you want to hear how Earl did it, listen to Dave Hellens pick the banjo. As a matter of fact, you wont have much choice but to listen to Dave pick, because that's all he does, except when he's asleep, and even then he practises his rolls. But that is the price you pay for technical virtuosity. Dave can play all the standards, note for note and, even harder, tone for tone. And he can branch out on amazing flights of fancy finding notes and scales in such chestnuts as Shuckin the Corn and Pike County Breakdown.

Backing up Dave on guitar is the equally digitally gymnastic Rob Long. I have always admired those that can get the same amount of notes with a flatpick than others can get with three fingers - and Rob is right up there. You have to play fast and you have to play hard to keep pace with Mr Hellens. In this Rob does a magnificient job, matching Dave lick for lick - never failing to pick up where the improvisation is going, nor yet reticent from taking his own track and daring the others within the ensemble to follow.

One who will not pass up a dare, nor yet a chance for a session is Tony Eyres (harmonica). There are two opinions in bluegrass - one that the harp is a bluegrass instrument, and the other that it is not. Whatever the merits either way, Tony is one of the most hardworking harp players around. There are very few fiddle tunes that he doesnt know, and there are no tunes of which I am aware that by the end of the round Tony hasnt grabbed a hold of and nailed down.

Of course, no nailing down is done without the supervision of the foreman himself, Doug Bull (doghouse bass). Doug is well known on the country and rockabilly circuit for his hard driving bass style. Hair in a quif, denim bib and brace, and the most laddish smile, Doug sticks out a mile as a true bandsmen, and one who, when the others start getting somewhat unruly, will assert his authority with one or two prominant slaps (to the bass) to keep things in a sensible orbit.

The Lawnmowers have delivered much in their short time as an ensemble, however, there is a lot of promise and a whole heap more potential in their sound. Stay tuned.

From Mary Martin at Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival 2006:

Another outstanding show was put on by the Lawnmowers bluegrass band, who gave. For us the highlight of their playlist was the White Freightliner Blues, that we know from the playing of Sam Bush and Bela Fleck off their album Alive at Twenty-five. But the Lawnmowers gave us other splendid numbers too, like the evocative Wayfaring Stranger, a classy jazzy version of Old Joe Clark, Down the Road (that got the folks up dancing in the mud), the Devil's Dream, and even a bluegrass interpretation of James Brown's I Feel Good. Their set ended on a hard driving version of the Dixie Breakdown. This world class performance of bluegrass with a contemporary edge by Dave Hellens banjo, Robbie Long guitar and drew lengthy and well deserved applause.