Only a year or two ago it seemed like it was all about trousers. People would arrive in carloads at The Retreat open mic sessions, just to see what kind of trousers Tim (Rutter) Rutherford would be wearing that week. However, we all knew there was something special in those trousers as Tim began to make his mark on the music world.

In his first headline gig at The Retreat last Thursday, it was a milestone event as Rutter's choice of trouser took on a kind of genteel rural maturity, giving free reign at last to his true talents as a folk/blues force to be reckoned with.

For over two hours, Tim treated us to the most accomplished renditions of folk/blues and other acoustic roots material from various sources, accompanied by his brother Josh's exquisite yet punchy rhythms on Djembe.


Tim (left) on guitar and vocals, Josh on Djembe.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Ledbury is truly a Centre of Musical Excellence. Heaven help those who seek to destroy this culture.