Bluegrass band

The Vanguards

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About The Vanguards

The Vanguards are a traditional 5-piece bluegrass and country band based in London.
Bluegrass band
London
Public liability insurance of £10 million

The Vanguards are a five-piece traditional bluegrass band based in London, consisting of Jack Baker on mandolin, Alex Clarke on guitar, Chris Lord on banjo, Laura Nailor on fiddle and Pete Thomas on bass. They take their musical inspiration from the originators of bluegrass music. Instrumentally, they seek to create a sound which blends the mandolin style of Bill Monroe, the banjo style of Ralph Stanley and the old-time style of fiddling which typified early bluegrass recordings and which continues to influence the sound of traditional bluegrass bands into the present day. When not playing their original numbers, their repertoire reflects these musical influences. Their choice of songs strongly favours those written or recorded by The Stanley Brothers and Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, but they also feature several songs made popular by Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys and Flatt & Scruggs. Their particular passion is exploring and faithfully recreating bluegrass music’s many rarely-heard compositions, particularly those written by Bill Monroe and Dr. Ralph Stanley.

Encore badges
7th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 7 years
Musicianship
Genres:
Folk, Bluegrass, Country
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Event types:
Concert, Wedding, Wedding proposal, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types

The Vanguards' Song list

Bill Monroe - Blue Moon of Kentucky
Bill Monroe - My Sweet Blue Eyed Darlin'
Bill Monroe - Pike County Breakdown
Bill Monroe - Will You Be Loving Another Man
Bill Monroe - Rawhide
Bill Monroe - Jerusalem Ridge
Bill Monroe - Come Hither to go Yonder
Bill Monroe - Southern Flavor
Bill Monroe - Tall Pines
Bill Monroe - Little Cabin Home on the Hill
The Stanley Brothers - Love Me Darlin' Just Tonight
The Stanley Brothers - Clinch Mountain Backstep
The Stanley Brothers - Highway of Regret
The Stanley Brothers - Nobody's Love Is Like Mine
The Stanley Brothers - Ridin' That Midnight Train
The Stanley Brothers - Hard Times
Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys - Katy Daly
Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys - All I Ever Loved Was you
Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys - Coosy
Flatt & Scruggs - Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Flatt & Scruggs - Farewell Blues
Flatt & Scruggs - Your Love Is Like a Flower
Flatt & Scruggs - Blue Ridge Cabin Home
Don Reno - Remington Ride
The Dillards - Old Home Place
The Dillards - Dooley
The Osborne Brothers - Rocky Top
Frank Wakefield - New Camptown Races
The Country Gentlemen - I'll Break Out Again Tonight
Jimmy Martin - Future on Ice
Hank Williams - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Faron Young - I Just Came To Get My Baby
Johnny Bond - I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
Traditional - Ragtime Annie
Traditional - Mountain Dew
Traditional - I Wonder How the Old Folks Are At Home
Traditional - Old Joe Clark
Traditional - Cherokee Shuffle
Originals:
River Take Me Away
Crocus Valley Breakdown
Craggie Hope
Don't Think I Want You Back
Every Time You're Near
Bar Stool Blues
Rattlesnake Breakdown
Once in a Blue Moon
Broken Memories
I'll See You Once Again
Everything I'll Ever Need
Think Before You Go
Southbound Train
Customer questions

Do you have different line-up options?

Our line-up consists of banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin and double-bass, with musicians also handling vocals. We also have a 3-piece option of fiddle, banjo/mandolin and guitar that can work for smaller events.

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

We try to be flexible, please let us know of any changes and we will do our best to accommodate them.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

If we're running sound, we can play music from a provided music device, such as an iPod.

How much time do you need to set up?

We require about an hour to unload, setup and sound-check. This can go more quickly if we're provided with venue details beforehand.

Can you roam around while you perform?

No, we cannot roam while we play.

Can I pick the songs you play from the set list?

We are happy to incorporate any songs that are listed in our repertoire into our set.

Is all of the equipment (e.g. PA & lighting) included in your quote?

PA is included in our quote, we do not provide lighting.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

We will consider bluegrass and country songs, but otherwise don't do requests.

The Vanguards' Prices

Last updated: 2024

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Up to 1 hour£1687.50
Up to 2 hours£2312.50
Up to 3 hours£3437.50
The Vanguards
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5 out of 5
2 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

The Vanguards' Reviews

From Encore customers:

MR
Michael H
3 months ago
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5 out of 5

These guys are incredible and we hope to book them again next year!

Reply from The Vanguards
3 months ago

Thanks so much Michael, it was a pleasure playing for you!

RL
Rob L
4 years ago
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5 out of 5

They were great to have, worked smoothly to coordinate the performance in advance and were lovely on the day itself.

From other customers:

LK
Lisa P
6 years ago

The future of traditional bluegrass is in great hands with the young Vanguards keeping it alive. They honor the pioneers of bluegrass, performing songs with all the raw emotion and power of the original versions. They also write their own material, which is somehow instantly infused with the ancient tones, sounding like it emerged from old Appalachia. Catch their live show to get the full effect!

CS
Colin E
6 years ago

I had the name Vanguards mentioned to me so checked them out on YoutTube and was well impressed. A traditional bluegrass sound with their own input. On this basis I booked them for a gig in the East Midlands and was knocked out by their performance and have been recommending them to other promoters, which I only do when I have confidence with an act. I know of one gig they've got on the back of this and I'm sure more will follow. Check these guys out when they play anywhere near you.