May 13th 2004 Sye Maddison and Mirla Heather

It's been quite a while since we saw this Duo and from past experience we knew that an evening of good country music would occur.

Mirla hails from Altringham, Cheshire but now resides in Crook, County Durham and takes all the lead vocals, whilst Sye a native of the North East, plays guitar and banjo and does harmony vocals.

Mirla has one of the best Country voices around and is obviously influenced by Patsy Cline, Jean Shepard and, by her own admission, Philomena Begley. Sye too admits to preferring the older country songs, so it was no surprise that their programme consisted of timeless classics e.g. 'My Dixie Darlin' -The Carter Family, 'Second Fiddle to an old Guitar' -Jean Shepard,' Bright Lights and Country Music' -Bill Anderson, 'Walkin' Talkin' Barely Beatin' Broken Heart' -Johnny Wright.

Such songs kept the dancers on the floor as did several numbers from the ninties singers, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Carlene Carter, Shania Twain etc.

Sye on a couple of occasions took the spotlight doing solo banjo medleys of traditional Irish tunes which brought quite an ovation from the audience.

Mirla treated us also to one of her own compositions 'Dreamcatcher' which was very well received too. Worthy of a mention was her masterful delivery of the Jennifer Rush hit 'The Power of Love' and her rendition of the floor filler ' Best of Friends'.

As anticipated, an evening of splendid country music came to pass all too quickly.