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Rocking the Blues |
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Friday 12th March, Marcus Malone Band Saturday 13th March lunchtime Blues Jam Sunday 14th March Guitar, Record & CD Fair
Saturday 13th March 2004 Nine Below Zero headlined the festival on the evening of Saturday 13th March and were a worthy band raising the temperature of the Court Theatre to near boiling point. The crowd had also experienced three superb supporting bands and all in all a night of fantastic blues. So good was the Saturday night again this year that people have already asked to order tickets for next year whoever might be on. See below for pictures and reviews. |
Rocking the Blues nominated charity for RTBAT 2004 is the Chilterns MS Centre, in Halton, offering treatment, care and support for those with MS living in the Chilterns. This therapy centre is self funding and needs all the help and financial support it can get
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| Storm
Warning www.stormwarning.co.uk
Saturday night kicked off with new band Storm Warning. The nucleus of the band is made up of members of The J.Fordaway Band - Bob Moore, guitar - Ian Salisbury, keyboards and Derek White bass. With the addition of 'Stretch' on vocals and harmonica and Roger Willis on drums you have a driving, dynamic band that ouzes quality. Opening number was a Tommy Castro song called 'Right as Rain' an up tempo rocking blues verging on soul side of blues. This was immediately followed by 'Help the Poor', although a Robben Ford version rather than BB King. Next up, a driving rocking Walter Trout song, 'Love so Deep' with a swirling organ solo and full on guitar. Lead vocalist Stretch is a dominant figure on the stage, not only through his height but his commanding vocals and self assured persona. He really came into his own on Muddy Water's 'She Moves Me' with a strong Paul Rodgers type vocal and the band showing their dynamic qualities.
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Bob Moore & Stretch from Storm Warning |
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It was evident that time
was of a premium with only a 30 minute set and the band swiftly
moved on to Robben Ford's 'Prison of Love', which had a steady
swinging groove allowing Stretch to play a harmonica intro before
launching into the vocals. The superb drumming of Roger Willis
features strongly on this number with the bluesy, jazzy feel and the
compelling turnarounds. Ian Salisbury drove a great organ solo,
followed by an equally great guitar solo Robben Ford would have
approved of. The song ended with some more harmonica finishing to
rapturous applause. With time running out Storm Warning finished
with a racing, funky blues called Overloaded and left the stage to
more enthusiastic applause. This was Storm Warning -
you've been warned!
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| Derek White Festival Organiser and Bass player | |
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Moon Dogs
Derik Timms of Moon Dogs Another new band to the blues scene is Moon Dogs, though the band is made up of pro’s who have been round the blues block many times, playing with such greats as Albert Collins, Albert King and Gary Moore. Moon Dogs opened with Willie Dixon’s ‘I’m Ready’ followed by a great version of Freddy King’s ‘Hideaway’. Showing versatility and originality they then played a self penned number called ‘That’s What She Said’. The number features a reoccurring guitar passage during breaks and leading in to one of these breaks guitarist Derik Timms accidentally pulled out his guitar lead. To keep the number going he then proceeded to play the rhythm using the end of the jack plug on his tongue, managing to put the lead in to the guitar and carry on as the whole band came back in! Some great slide guitar followed on ‘Little Red Rooster’ and a fine bass solo by Eddie Masters on ‘Travelling Show’. The band also featured Paul Miller on keyboards and the acclaimed and well travelled Graham Walker on drums. The set was finished off with a rousing version of ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’. Moon Dogs - definitely a band to look out for.
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Papa George Band www.papageorge.co.uk
The penultimate band to take to the stage was the Papa George Band with Pete Stroud on fretless bass and Sam Kelly on the drums lining up with guitarist and vocalist Papa George. Is this Britain’s finest three piece blues band? The first song was an upbeat shuffle from the new cd ‘Down At The Station’ - the very apt ‘Man With The Blues’. Papa George is a true picture of the man with the blues with his pin striped suit and Strat in hand bringing in next, the favourite ‘Blackjack’. His guitar sound is what a Fender Stratocaster is all about. He made it sing on ‘Cleansing My Soul’, a new soulful blues number. On ‘Flooding Down in Texas’, a Papa George tribute to SRV, he played a great solo showing his skill and passion for the guitar. ‘Deadline Blues’ and the funky ‘Long Time Dead’ both from the new cd were also given an airing and as at most Papa George Band gigs they finished with Peter Green’s ‘Oh Well’ allowing Pete Stroud and Sam Kelly to show just how good they are. The band got the reception they deserved but due to tight scheduling couldn’t do the encore the crowd were begging for. |
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| Nine Below Zero
www.ninebelowzero.com
The anticipation of Nine Below Zero filled the auditorium to capacity and gave an electric atmosphere to welcome Dennis Greaves and the boys. Nine Below Zero mix in rock/blues and R’n’B with originals and well known covers. Superb versions of ‘One Way Street’ and ‘Wild Kicking Horses’ off the ‘Refrigerator’ album, with Mark Feltham, as he did all night, playing some fine harp. Gerry McAvoy plays solid and melodic bass, interacting with assured guitarist and vocalist Dennis Greaves, singing backing vocals with full conviction.
This is a band having a good time and it’s
infectious. With entertainment in mind Nine Below Zero moved on
to "Treat Her Right",
"Woolly Bully" and "I Can't Help Myself". Mark
Feltham showed his command of the harmonica with some fabulous
melodic playing on ‘Amazing Grace’ which led in to the Old Grey
Whistle Test theme and then ‘Maybe It’s Because I’m A
Londoner’! Only NBZ could do a capella version of ‘Hit The Road
Jack’ - accompanied
by the audience - and keep their credibility in tact! The audience
wanted music to boogie and party to and that’s what they got!
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Ashwyn Smyth writes; "I have to say this was the first time I had seen Nine Below Zero & I was blown away. Numbers included "Treat Her Right", "Wooly Bully", "I Can't Help Myself" and Mark Feltham, on the harp doing a fabulous version of "Amazing Grace" which segued into "Stone Fix Chase" (the Old Grey Whistle Test theme and "Maybe It's Because I'm a Londoner". The band did an a capella version of "Hit the Road Jack" and were joined by the audience."
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