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 August Bank Holiday 2004 Municipal Hall, Colne Photos by BRIAN SMITH copyright ©2004 |
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For those not yet familiar, this is now probably the premier British blues festival - this year celebrating its 15th anniversary. It was started in 1990 by Gary Hood who had launched the neighbouring Burnley Festival the previous year – though it is due in no small measure to his continued involvement with both, that they have since developed their own particular characters and both manage to survive, whilst others have come and gone. Like fine trees, they have benefited from some judicious pruning over the years. Colne still proudly boasts “Over 1,000 Artists over Four Days”, in a wide range of venues and events covering and involving the whole town. |
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©2004 BluesArtStudio, Vienna, AUSTRIA
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A daily round trip of some 150 miles meant I could only catch 3 nights and one afternoon of the main “International Stage”, but I still caught most of the gems. I missed Friday’s mainly rocky domestic fare - also missing a highly praised Billy Branch, but fortunately he guested with Sean Costello on the Saturday. He packed terrific versions of “Feel So Good”, Walter’s “One More Chance” and Sonny Boy’s “Don’t Start Me to Talkin’” into his short, impromptu spot that was one of the real highlights. Sean’s own set was gutsy and varied, taking in BB King, T-Bone and Robert Ward material (even Charlie Rich and Jimmy Donley!), in addition to some impressive Costello originals. Definitely one to see again!
Another harp-man, Washington’s Doug Jay had kicked-off Saturday night in fine style and this, his 3rd or 4th festival appearance in little over a year was as fresh and dynamic as the first. “Playgirl” and “Keep Rockin’ Me” were at home amongst classic Chicago stuff, including George Smith and Playboy Taylor, all delivered with real panache and the sort of swing you’d associate with a Piazza or Little Charlie. A deserved encore brought a welcome, if surprising gem in Moon Mullican’s “Seven Nights to Rock”.
Soul-man Earl Thomas had wowed this year’s Burnley crowd, but went up several notches here, with an act and ‘Mar-Keys-like’ band even more well-drilled but, above all, now with the considerable added benefit of two saxy ladies, The Hornettes, who punched the whole thing along with some wonderful alto & tenor riffs and solos. Easily the biggest hit of the weekend with the crowd, he had them in the palm of his hand from the terrific opener, “Midnight in Memphis” right through to the thunderously-sought encore, “That’s Alright”, in between celebrating his 44th birthday - with a spontaneous “Happy Birthday” sung by the assembled masses! Good and slick though the up-tempo stuff was, a few more soul-ballads would have paced it better (those we got, “First and Last Thing on My Mind” and “I won’t be around” were wonderful). A star in the making!
Another following-up a storming Burnley show (2003) was headliner Eddie ‘The Chief’ Clearwater who carried on where he had left off, but this time opened in his trademark headdress. He did his familiar clutch of Chuck Berry rockers (though all fresh readings and, as several observed, a darn sight better than Chuck’s own recently-seen stage renditions!), but only as part of a very solid, varied and expressive set also including many West and South-Side classics. On these two showings (my own first), Eddie is vastly under-rated and perhaps rather taken for granted and I for one can’t wait to catch him again. 
The best thing about the closing day was the welcome and long overdue return of Sherman Robertson – also, we were shocked to learn, back after cancer treatment. Seemingly a bit disappointed at having an afternoon spot (though, in fact, this was only caused by his late booking), he obviously decided to go for the grandstand and gave possibly the best performance I’ve seen him give – which is really saying something! From staples like “Tin Pan Alley”, through soul blues (“Special Kind Of Love” & “Make it Rain”) and vicious axe-slinging in “These Things Keep Happening” & “Let Me Drive Your Automobile”, he gave them the lot and they (and I) loved it all. So good to see him back – and with a bit more new stuff he really ought to be up there giving the big guys a run for their money!
Having seen Sharrie Williams blow away the Utrecht faithful with a searing gospel-soul set, I had told everyone to catch her here, but it was a bit of a let-down. Sharrie sang as gloriously as ever, but I just couldn’t take to the brass-less line-up and song after song descended into long, thoroughly un-bluesy guitar-hero solos. They all seem fine musos, but I badly wanted something like Earl Thomas had had behind him. The crowd, however, loved it all, so what do I know? I’ll check out the album and try again (she is good enough to deserve that) and see if I can get onto the wavelength……….which is something I just couldn’t manage to do with Mighty Mo Rodgers, someone I’d wanted to see for a long, long time. Just occasionally, when I was giving up, he would start to do something stunningly good, but mostly the songs were over-long, endless diatribes, full of political and social significance – but, frankly more like a lecture than a festival. Sorry – not for me. Great shame – and, as he went about an hour over time, he had half-emptied the hall before the festival closer – the always excellent Jive Aces………lots more Prima and Jordan jump and jive and an ideal finale, if it’s not already 1am and you have to be at work at 7.30!!!