Sandpaper Tango

Sandpaper Tango was formed in Devonport by the fire on a wintry night in 2011 and features Cy Winstanley on guitar and vocals, Catherine (BB) Bowness on banjo and Vanessa McGowan on double bass and vocals.

With harmonies tighter than a zeppelin in a condom, and grooves more stompin’ than a clog-dancing contest, Sandpaper Tango is one new bluegrass band to keep an eye on.

Cy Winstanley cut his musical teeth in New Zealand singing, playing guitar and harmonica and, after a passing teenage obsession with guitar rock, discovered bluegrass, jazz and blues. Following the urge to discover his Liverpudlian roots, Cy moved to London in 2004 and spent 7 years there busking, writing and playing around the country. In 2009 Cy released his first album as a songwriter with Her Make Believe Band described as a “masterful blend of Americana fused with jazz, soul and pop”.

Originally from Auckland, Vanessa grew up playing in the local jazz scene and studied jazz bass at Auckland University. She performed throughout Auckland and NZ in various groups including the Caitlin Smith band and the Rodger Fox Big Band and in 2005 left NZ to study for a Masters in Music at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada on scholarship. After completing the Masters and moving to London in 2007 she reconnected with Winstanley who encouraged her to sing backing vocals on his original songs, revealed to her the simple beauty of a country 2-feel and inducted her into the world of bluegrass, fiddle tunes and the G lick.

BB first picked up the banjo when she was 12 years old, receiving the Frank Winter award a few years later to travel to the USA and study with some of her banjo heros. She won the Uncle Dave Macon banjo contest in Tennessee at 15 and came runner up in the Rockygrass banjo contest. In 2007, she was invited back to the USA to join bluegrass band, Long Road Home. BB has performed throughout NZ and Australia with bands, Reintarnayshun, Twisted Oak and in a duet with tenor banjoist, Alex Borwick. She recorded her debut album 'Village Green' in 2010 and in 2011 travelled on a scholarship to the University of North Carolina to study Jazz performance, being the first banjo player to do so.