After deciding to form a full band, Maria brought the members of The Reckless Abandoners together in late 2015. The six-piece subsequently performed at all the main bluegrass festivals in the UK between 2016 and 2019, before changes in personnel put this project on the back burner. The Covid-19 crisis subsequently made it more difficult than ever to bring a full band together, and the logistics were already tricky as members were scattered across the UK – but we had a great run for a few years. The Reckless Abandoners performed contemporary bluegrass and Americana, with touches of honky tonk, Western Swing, acoustic country and blues. Our eclectic repertoire included original songs and tunes, traditional standards and creative covers, from upbeat to mellow. The original line-up consisted of Maria Wallace (lead vocals), Phil Stott (mandolin/ vocals), Mark Gibbons (guitar), Bruno Pichler (dobro), Eleanor Wilkie (fiddle) and Julie Cross (double bass). We were lucky to be joined by many skilled deps over the years including Dick Embery on double bass, Alistair McIlroy on banjo, Laura Carrivick on dobro and Kieran Towers on fiddle.
The Reckless Abandoners made their warmly received debut on the main stage at Orwell Bluegrass Festival in Suffolk in May 2016. Further performances over the next three years included all the main bluegrass festivals in the UK – Didmarton, Coastline, Tamworth, Cornish, Moniaive, Gower, South Essex and Crossover, plus a few non-festival gigs in Yorkshire. We enjoyed a great run for a few years there!