THE good folk of Devizes were treated to a genuine cornucopia of bluegrass when The Railsplitters, a five-piece group from Boulder, Colorado, gave an evening to remember. at Devizes Festival.

They came to Devizes in the middle of their 28-day tour of the UK and Ireland and have played to rave reviews from audiences who appreciate just how bluegrass should sound.

They have reinvented bluegrass in a style that is energetic, original and fun, despite warnings from the bluegrass police.

The newest member of the band Christine King played her fiddle so damn fast that I swear I saw smoke. Lead singer and guitarist Lauren Stovall has a voice so powerful and clear, with echoes of that old lonesome sound.

The rendition of an old Beatles number Act naturally was fun, refreshing and brought bang up to date. The band produced an original and catchy mixture of Samba grass, pop grass, and Do-wap grass, as well as the beautiful a cappella treatment of an old Carter Family number Please don't leave me any more darlin’.

Despite the fact the band have only been together for four years they play with maturity, instinctively in tune with one another and produced some of the most innovative and truly enjoyable sounds around. If you missed them on Monday there is still time to catch them on tour, just visit their website for dates, they deserve to go far.

Elaine Gale