Young Waimate songsters wow Iowans

NATASHA MARTIN/ The Timaru Herald

BLUEGRASS BROTHERS: Nine-year-old Angus, left, and Brady Mercer, 12, are back from the United States after performing at the 34th annual Old Time Country Music Bluegrass Festival in Iowa.

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Brady and Angus Mercer are back from the United States with ribbons, awards and an invite from country music stars.

The Waimate brothers were invited to perform at the recent 34th annual Old Time Country Music Bluegrass Festival, held in Iowa over seven days.

Brady, 12, won three ribbons – third in guitar (open category), second in junior performance (under 18) and third in country singing (open). He and Angus also won A Rising Legend Award.

The boys, who perform as the Round Up Brothers, joined 600 musicians from all over the world, including Greece, Switzerland and Germany, who travelled to Iowa for the festival.

After the festival, Brady was invited to tour England with country music stars Charlie Groff and Terry Smith. The Traditional Music Association voted Smith its Songwriter of the Year in 1995 and 1996.

The boys' mother, Deanna Mercer, said it was unlikely Brady would go because it cost a lot of money, but the boys would return to Iowa in four years and Brady would stay there for six months on exchange.

Their love for country music started six years ago for Brady and three years ago for Angus.

Mrs Mercer said Brady had watched his uncle play guitar and "kept pestering us" wanting to learn.

The boys will perform at Waimate's Strawberry Fare and the Caroline Bay Carnival.