THE next concert at St Helen's Church Alveston unites the acclaimed duo of Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston with the American guitarist Grant Gordy.

Grant met Rex and Miranda in April 2012 when working as a tutor at the Sore Fingers bluegrass camp.

"One of the wonderful things about teaching at camps like that is the connections you make with the other people present," says Grant.

"There were lots of jam sessions going on and I quickly found myself moving in the same circle as Miranda and Rex. I was blown away by Miranda's singing and bass playing, and Rex's stunning mandolin chops are in a class of their own. I knew they were special musicians right away, and the chemistry between the three of us was immediate."

Grant returned the following autumn to play with Rex and Miranda at the Didmarton Bluegrass Festival in Gloucestershire, and a short tour was built around the festival, giving the trio their first opportunity to have a proper stretch of gigs.

"I also played on their last record, Sing a Full Song," adds Grant, "although I overdubbed my parts from a studio in the US, so I wasn't in the room with them. Though we live quite far apart and have separate projects most of the time, it's the highlight of my year to reunite with them and try to fit what I do into their sound.

"We don’t give it a name we just know it works and people enjoy it. I guess it is built upon folk roots with Rex injecting a country/bluegrass feel and I work in a few Jazz lines. It all hangs around Miranda’s rock solid bass and almost ethereal singing style.

"We are really looking forward to the gig in Alveston, as both Phil Beer and Steve Knighley say they love the warm natural acoustics of St Helens; it sounds like a great place to launch the tour."

Miranda, Rex and Grant play St Helen's Church, Alveston on Friday, May 1. Tickets are £10 from Steve Hitchins on 07973 496525 or at steve.c.hitchins@gmail.com