The County Boys, Chris and Benj, were born in a barn just outside of Peterborough and spent their youth playing music in piles of hay. Growing up, Benj became the fastest banjo picker in the county and Chris was even faster on the guitar. Soon they met a chap named Diamond Dave from Peterborough County who was known as the fastest bass fiddler around, known for playing with the fastest washboard player in the world, WASHBOARD HANK!!! Benj and Chris challenged him to a duel at the Peterborough Farmer's Market and people were in awe as the duel progressed, erupting sounds of boom boom boom, ting ting ting and chuck chuck chuck. As the hours went by it appeared as though no one would win the duel. Chris and Benj had finally met their match and until this day they play together as the County Boys.
Since the County Boys are no longer dueling, they have accomplished many feats in the year that they have been together. Their original and high energy music has spawned many nights of dancing, foot stompin' and drinking in the many venues of Southern Ontario. Such highlights have been sharing the stage with Willie P. Bennet, Washboard Hank and playing the Peterborough Folk Festival. They have made the Montreal House in Peterborough their watering hole, playing regular Thursdays and creating a loyal home town following. They just finished there first CD of 13 original songs, which include three part harmonies, guitar, banjo, and upright bass. The performance was captured live off the floor from the local pub the Rusty Snail and was a collective effort among the three musicians who shared both the song writing and singing.
The music is the experiences and stories of the County Boys. It could be called bluegrass or roots music but Diamond Dave prefers to call it Pure Love. It is music that tells a story and is from the heart, just like the time when someone stole Dave's beer and he heartbrokenly wrote a song about it.
The County Boys now live together in the County of Peterborough and share a three story bunk bed. They rehearse all day and then play all night. When they get tired of working on songs they work on astral projection. This makes the County Boys appropriate for almost any venue or function.
we were sorry to have missed you this summer when you came through this way. if you do again, let's share a bill. we're coming to Ontario in May...come see us best, nudie
