THIS husband-and-wife team give the old time music of America a fresh sheen with their exuberant playing of fiddle, guitar, banjo and mandolin, along with their close harmony singing.

Old time music evolved when the Celtic fiddle, with its beautiful melodies, met the infectious crooked rhythms of the Afro-American banjo. The clash of cultures acted as a catalyst for a vibrant musical tradition that is still potent today - thanks to gifted American devotees like Dana and Susan Robinson (www.robinsongs.com).

Their passion for traditional music was evident at the Black Swan in York last night, when they played an eclectic mix of songs and tunes, including several tracks from their latest album, Native Soil, which they officially launched before the gig.

Their hypnotic version of The Cuckoo, featuring a flighty fiddle and a deliberate banjo, explores the volatile nature of relationships. Miller & The Lass is an evergreen ballad about love and a grindstone, while an immigrant's tale of unrequited love, horse theft, jail and redemption is encapsulated in When First Unto This Country.

Say Darlin' Say takes the nursery song Hush Little Darling out into the world of adults.

To get closer to their enthusiastic audience, Dana and Susan unplugged and stepped in front of their microphones to play foot-tapping fiddle and guitar tunes like the delightfully fast and frenetic Lost Girl.

This was fine musicianship full of nuance, skill and intimacy.

Updated: 11:53 Friday, January 28, 2005