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Nickel Creek: Memorial Hall, Sheffield

Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 23 October 2002

AS ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES and careers advisers often tell us, presentation is everything. But nobody appears to have told San Diego four-piece Nickel Creek. Formed around the brother-sister violin-guitar coupling of former child prodigies Sara and Sean Watkins, they arrive on these shores with a reputation as bluegrass innovators. Although some purists have been alienated by their mix'n'match approach, they have been praised by both bluegrass and country musicians' associations and their debut album shifted 650,000 in the US. Prospects of similar UK success are threatened by their bizarre approach to live performance. This is less a gig than a festival of public gurning.

Total word count of piece: 347

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