Billy in the Lowground formed back in 1991 as the Brew Band, since when they've slogged all over the country playing loud 'n' dirty folk rock (for want of a better description) to all & sundry. Based in the West Country, UK but they'll go anywhere as long as there's free beer... Playing what could loosely be termed Folk-Rock (think ‘Weapon called the Word’ era Levellers rather than ‘All around my Hat’ era Steeleye Span), with an Irish influence courtesy of fiddle player Ruth Behan, the sound is continuously evolving, veering into alt.country territory and out-and-out Rock. Or, as Venue magazine put it: "...a very tight, rocky band, with only the tattered remnants of Irish and Old Timey fiddle tunes hanging out of the back of it (definitely no classicised folky pretty stuff). It's old and tough and dirty and rough." Can't argue with that. They don’t play covers, on the basis that "nobody else plays our stuff, so why should we play theirs?" Over the years, they’ve played festivals as diverse as: Glastonbury, Ashton Court, Trowbridge Pump, Bath festival, Respect in the West, Pontardawe International Folk, Larmer Tree and Off the Tracks, as well as supporting acts such as John Otway, the Popes, Rock Salt & Nails, Norma Waterson & Martin Carthy, Oysterband, the Wurzels and Fairport Convention. www.billyinthelowground.com
