http://www.fanzeyeview.com/review-hbbf-2011.html
Leaving my home in Essex on Thursday 26th, car loaded up, all the engine fluids checked, I headed along the A120 to the M11 on the road to Hebden with a mixture of anxiety, excitement and anticipation at the coming Bank Holiday weekend.
Arriving at around 6pm at Jason Elliott’s home, I was warmly greeted by Jason and his partner Kate, his mother and son as we chatted about the upcoming events, Kate also providing a wonderful meal for us. The phone calls started as soon as dinner began from bands and managers, in a good way for once. Last minute details to events that were planned for the end of the festival were coming through. Paddy Maguire turned up to the house and we went to a local jam session to meet some of the musicians and people involved with the festival, with of course some beers.
Waking up on Friday there was no turning back. I made my way to the Office where I got to meet the wonderful people behind the scenes working busily on ticket sales, promotion etc. and it was very busy indeed.
I went to the railway station to collect my friend Evelina and we headed back to the Office where Paddy was looking rather pale and proceeded to tell us about one bands problem at Rome Airport (hilarious) and Lance Lopez’s immigration ordeal at Manchester Airport. I won’t go into details here, but let’s say that the band flying in from Rome never made it but Lance did.
First event of the festival was a showing of the blues movie ‘Full Moon Lightnin’ at the Trades Club, which had a few attendees more than I had thought would be there, for me it was great to see this fine film on a big screen instead of a TV sized one. After a stroll around the town to see the local promotion banners and shops, I headed back to the Trades Club to meet up with Rob and Matt from 10 Radio who did a wonderful festival preview show the Sunday before, and were going to spend the weekend interviewing artists and festival goers alike. Just after Jon Amor’s Blues Group turned up to set up for the evening. great to catch up with Jon and Mark who I last saw with The Hoax.
Friday night at a packed out Trades Club kicked off with Leeds band Poorboy playing interesting variations of standards. During the set Lance Lopez and Chris Gipson turned up for the evening much to everyone’s delight. Jon Amor’s Blues Group, after an introduction from Lance, mesmerised the crowd with a fantastic set of new band songs, Jon’s songs and a Hoax classic.
Now the first big event of the festival had arrived Lance Lopez and Jon Amor jamming onstage at Paddy Maguire’s Midnight Sessions. It brought the house down; another highlight was Chris singing with Jenna Hooson on a couple of songs. After the night was done
we all headed back to Jason’s house for food and drink and music until well into the dawn.
Saturday had arrived and I headed for the Marquee in the Park where the Mayor opened the weekend’s festivities and the bands started up. The crowds kept coming in and so did the artists from the Friday night including Lance and band plus a very hung-over Jon Amor all mixing in and having some fun.
Friends of mine turned up as well, Christine, Tricia and Maggie (The Hebdenettes), cameras at the ready and their singing voices primed. After some chat and photos etc we headed off to the local church to see Krissy Matthews play an acoustic set to a decent crowd, very enjoyable indeed. I had to leave just before the end to get back to the Marquee for the superb Sam Hare Band. With a raging sore throat, Sam sang on as best he could , gulping down cough mixture on stage during the set. He and his super band played songs mostly from his delightful cd ‘Down To The Sea’. After Sam had finished the church crowd came back in and saw Larry Miller do what he does best and played some great rockin blues that had the crowd dancing and singing. I was particularly glad that he played some songs off his new cd including Cruel Old World .
Saturday night was for me at the Picture House to see Krissy Matthews Band, Bex Marshall Band and Lance Lopez. Krissy played a really fine set featuring some covers but mainly from his rather good cd ‘Hit The Rock’. Bex Marshall Band were next up and I thought were great , playing songs from her current ‘Kitchen Table’ cd and forthcoming ‘Snakepit’ cd, a great band featuring some wonderful percussion . Lance Lopez was now finally playing his first UK gig and he didn’t let us down with a near two hour set of funky texas blues featuring a ten minute walkabout around the Picture House, the talents of Chris on bass and Jimmy on drums, it was a pleasure to witness this band playing in our country. With the moving of accommodation for me I missed the majority of the Jam Session that night but made it back to catch Lance doing a meet and greet outside the Trades Club.
Some necessary sleep was acquired for what was going to be my busiest day and a day of music I will never forget. After a morning chat at the apartment with Lance Lopez and the band, the saying of goodbyes to Evelina and the welcoming of The Hebdenettes, the arrival of Cherry Lee Mewis and Robbie.
I proceeded down to the Marquee to meet up with 24 Pesos and Paddy Milner, Marcus Bonfanti and band. Marcus, Paddy and Scott all headed off to my apartment for a drink and chat where Clare Free had turned up there chatting away with Cherry and drinking all of the cider out of the fridge. As the musicians made their ways for sound checking in differing venues,saying goodbye to Rob and Matt, the rest of us went back to the Marquee to witness the fabulous Gerry Jablonski And The Electric Band play a truly memorable set including this fine tune . Cherry Lee Mewis did an acoustic 15 minute set for us before the mighty 24 Pesos hit the stage as the final act of the marquee phase of the festival and what a way to end it . Playing mainly tracks from the excellent 'Busted, Broken & Blue'cd they had the crowd of all ages dancing , clapping and singing. Cherry Lee Mewis and myself even joined them for the encore with some interesting lyrical variations taking place during the song , all good fun.
Next it was off to the Picture House to see Clare Free Band run through a great set finishing off with British Blues Award nominated song’ Funky Mamas Kitchen Blues’ Then Cherry Lee took the stage for three tunes to entertain the crowd during the change over. Unfortunately I only caught the first song of the impressive Hooson before having to leave with Cherry and Robbie for the Trades Club in what was to be a memorable few hours in the company of some of the finest British blues musicians around.
Just before Marcus & Paddy were due to play, Cherry and Robbie wowed the crowd with another short set of acoustic blues which was very much appreciated by the packed out Trades club. Then it was the turn of my favourites Marcus and Paddy with Scott and Alex who played some of the finest music the Trades Club has ever witnessed. The energy and playing within the band was spellbinding from start to finish , no more apparent than on this track Now I'm Gone (Is Your Life Better) which I would say was the song of the festival for me, just awesome.
The Jam Session after was an all star cast of the British Blues Nominees for this year. All taking part in differing songs were Cherry Lee Mewis, Clare Free, 24 Pesos, Marcus Bonfanti and Paddy Milner, not forgetting Paddys Allstars as the backline. Some historic jamming of the highest quality that is captured on video, I will list the links at the end of the review.
Monday saw Cherry and Robbie head back to Bedford in the late morning after breakfast in a café in the town. Then for me it was off to the Trades Club with the lovely Hebdenettes to see Mitch Laddie Band and WT Feaster Band. Mitch is one of the most talented guitarists I have seen in a long while, although today he had problems with his amp, he battled on admireably playing some wonderful blues. Travis Feaster is another of the long line of talented musicians that America has, with his band they played a great set of funky blues that the crowd lapped up. At the end Mitch joined Travis onstage for the encore with the pair of them serving up a dual guitar treat.
Towards the end of Mitch/Travis, my old friends P-A-U-L turned up at the club to set up for the evenings show. After a little catch up chat, myself and the Hebdenettes went in search of food and found it in a local restaurant, and I must say the haddock, chips and mushy peas with tea was a culinary joy. The conversation was all about the festival and what highlights and videoing and photographing was done, and of course the final act of the festival later.
The Blues Dukes started the evening off playing standards of the highest quality, the crowd clearly enjoying their music, meanwhile halfway through the set I was having a drink with PAUL and catching up on music matters with them.and of course the joys of whiskey drinking. When it was their time to play they put
on the best musical show I’ve seen them do, playing songs from ‘Gunshot Lullaby’ and new 'Tales From The Gravel' it was blistering.
Afterwards the jam session was another great success with PAUL, Jenna joining Paddys Allstars for a great festival send off. I managed to have a drink and chat with festival stalwarts Tony Winfield and Sue Hickling of the Nottingham Blues Society, who in their own words ‘ had a brilliant time’.
I have never had so much fun than I did working with Hebden Bridge Blues Festival, new friendships formed and old ones rekindled. Where to start on the thank you’s? Jason, Kate, Paddy, Jenna, Stephen, Craig, Jamie, Darren, Richard, Caterina, all the staff at the various venues working the bars, sound, lighting, staging etc. The town itself provides a wonderful setting with its own history and style, the weather was very kind to us as well.
On Tuesday morning I headed off back to Essex with a mixture of relief and sadness. Planning has already started for HBBF 2012
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