(ex Low Country Boys) - Welcome to the Thompson Brothers' blog, by Mark Thompson and Graeme Thompson, founders and original lead vocalists of the Low Country Boys. These days we're doing something similar but simpler - old-time gospel music in the classic mandolin/guitar "brother duet" tradition of the early 1900s. This blog will tell you more about the great brother duets, and other aspects of evangelical rural American culture and its Scotch-Irish / Ulster-Scots cultural roots - and a wee bit about our own music too.
Thanks to Network Media in Holywood for this clip, from a recent rehearsal session that we did at the People's Hall in Portavogie. Our family connection with the Hall goes right back to when it was founded in 1926 - it's a classic Ulster mission hall, one of the very few that are still left. With thanks to John and the folk there for letting us record in it, we might post more of the songs that were filmed that night on this blog over coming weeks. Plenty of wrong notes and the singing's not that great, but that's what you get with us two!
These three hymns are "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus", "Follow On" and "Saviour Thy Dying Love", all written by Robert Lowry whose parents were from Killyleagh in County Down. Here's the sign board from the Hall - you'd be very welcome at any of the meetings!
