Mark Newman : visit Marks website at Old Bridge Music  ‘See Dusty Knees live, buy the cd - you won't be disappointed’ Dusty Knees are a four-piece band from the Midlands and this is their latest CD. The album contains music that will appeal to many people, particularly anyone who likes music with a broadly country feel to it. There are twelve original songs, all written by vocalist Steve Haywood and guitarist Chris Ridsdale and they have created a disc that is varied in style. There is a range of material here, from the uptempo Heartbreaker and Get'Em When I'm Gone, to slower songs, Hometown, Fall to Pieces and Four Notes among them. The line up of two guitars, percussion and vocals demonstrates a high level of musicianship that serves each of the songs well. Steve Haywood provides the vocals in a style that reminded me a little of the American slide player, Sonny Landreth. Arrangements are very tight and the harmonies are extremely well put together across each song. There is some great instrumental work. The guitars of Chris Ridsdale and Shaun Thompsett work very well together and Haydn Brough's percussion compliments them beautifully. particularly on the bluesy Carolina (great slide playing on this one), Heartbreaker and my own personal favourite, The Peacock Tree. This is an exceptional song and while Dusty Knees arrangement is great, one might wonder what Alison Krauss would make of it? It's tailor-made for her. All in all then, a most appealing album. See Dusty Knees live, buy the CD - you won't be disappointed.

Mick (MG) Gardiner : Broadcaster and musician  ‘...the golden years of the Eagles and Flying Burritos’ Dusty Knees have overcome the difficult 'third album syndrome' with great style; Steve Haywood's warm and somewhat unique voice interpreting some excellent self-penned new songs in the familiar country idiom backed by the tuneful and always professional guitar and mandolin-playing of Chris Ridsdale and Shaun Thompsett, with Haydn Brough on percussion. If you hanker after the golden years of the Eagles and Flying Burritos, when bands played soothing, summery music then Dusty Knees will not disappoint !

‘Blackcat’ AKA David Nordon-Angus : presenter Britdock, Radio Antenne d’Oc.  ‘Why aren’t these guys in Nashville?’ I arrived here in South West France in February of 2003 already familiar with Dusty Knees first album ‘Tellurider’ and had been impressed with the quality of writing and performance involved. However, whilst I had previously been well aware of the multi-talents of co-founder and guitarist Chris Ridsdale (he taught me all I know about E7#9!) the coming togetherwith Steve Haywood (vocalist,co-founder/writer) Haydn Brough on percussion and more recently Shaun Thompsett on mandolin and guitar completed the alchemy. In ‘La France Profonde’ where terms such as New Country or Swamp Boogie are seldom heard and where genre headings of dubious validity abound such as Ska Festif,Rock Amalgam, the one defining parameter is that of ‘La Qualite’ and this Dusty Knees exude in spades. From the very first airplay of tracks such as Hell Heating Up, Get ‘Em When I’m Gone and the magnificent instrumental Waverly Station reaction from both French and ex-patriate listeners has been overwhelmingly positive. This first album is now on our 24/7 ‘sans interuption’ playlist and there are frequent enquiries mostly in the vein of where can we hear them live!! The Peacock Tree was another tour de force and yet quite different in both pace and style. Highly original vocal treatments and instrumentally varied and fresh in it’s approach. At times there are hints of Little Feat (not surprising!) and even the Allman Brothers in Ridsdales solos but who’s complaining!! Difficult to categorize and yet instantly comfortable and very easy to identify with. Steve Haywood’s voice lingers in one’s ‘default memory’ for days after a first listen or so it would seem. This morning I received my very own preview copy of the four-track ‘EP’ ‘Hometown and subjected it to my ‘get on with another routine task whilst it plays’ test. It passed the test. All four tracks caught my attention and the balance of style and content /instrumentation work incredibly well. The acoustically re-worked Jezebel moves along nicely and with pleasant three part harmonies and nicely paced guitar from Chris Ridsdale. The title track ‘Hometown’ is beautifully crafted and has a truly seductive lilt – well chosen lads! Track three ‘Outa Line Doin’ Fine’ drives along at a cracking pace and loses nothing in the translation from electric to acoustic. Well produced but one cannot help but wonder what would happen to asong of this quality in the hands of a top Nashville producer? Finally, Leave it Alone has anovel intro’(listen and see!!) with hallmark (shades of N.Young?) harp from Chris followed by subtle harmonies ( and now mandolin from Shaun) from Steve and the band. All together a superb ‘sampler’ and introduction to the band. Here at Antenne d’Oc (Britdock) we shall continue to play Dusty Knees at every opportunity in anticipation of a mini-tour one day perhaps?!! In the meantime, I suggest that club organizers in the UK contact the band (CD available) without delay in order to secure an act that will truly delight and entertain!