The Virtual Reality Boys why? why not. After all this music originates from the South Eastern USA, some of which we play, three Finns and one Englishman. Well we can only be virtually the real thing. Old Timey music comes largely from the Tri-States, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina, the origins coming with the protestant immigration from Great Britain, Scots, Scots/Irish, English and Welsh settlers in the 17th and 18 th century to that part of America, the Irish Celtic culture going to the North, incidentally. The new arrivals took with them their fiddles pipes and bagpipes, one of the reasons why there are still many references to Scotland in the tunes and titles in the music today. Later came the contribution of the many thousands of slaves from Africa. The banjo was an african instrument and most of the tunes still played have been around since those early days. The interest in Old Timey music, like its offspring, Bluegrass, has spread to many other parts of the U.S. and to Europe. I know of musicians from France, Belgium and Holland as well as a large and enthusiastic group from the U.K. To give an example of its continued strength, Galax in Virginia USA, boasts in excess of 30,000 campers to its week long festival. I present to you the Virtual Reality Boys, virtually real and very convincing Old Timey Music. John Sheppard