music by DANI WILDE
Text by Norman Darwen, Photos by BRIAN SMITH
The Blues festival at the small Lancashire town of Burnley takes place each Easter weekend and is eagerly anticipated by UK blues lovers - and it has been so now for 20 years!
So, as this was a special celebration, the line-up for 2008 included the American pianist Little Willie Littlefield and the UK's own Mike Sanchez, who both played at the very first festival (Mike was with The Big Town Playboys at that time; he now leads his own band).
Others on the bill included Little Charlie & The Nite Cats, with phenomenal guitarist Charlie Baty going into 'retirement' after this tour, blues guitar great Duke Robillard, festival favourite singer Earl Thomas, the excellent down-home performer and Black & Tan recording artist Boo Boo Davis, the duo of UK residents Michael Roach (guitar) and Johnny Mars (harmonica), much-loved Chicago diva Angela Brown, the wonderful Nick Moss & The Flip Tops, and New Orleans piano player Henry Butler. From Denmark came the extremely talented Thorbjorn Risager.
Besides the shows at the Mechanics, blues cruises along the canal have also become a regular feature of the festival, this year featuring the young blues-rocking Chicagoan Khalif 'Wailin' Walter on Saturday 22nd March and southern saxman Eddie 'Blue' Lester the following day.
Of course, there are also many British blues acts - among them this year were Connie Lush, newcomer Dani Wilde who is creating quite a stir, Sean Webster and The Stumble.
>>>> Norman Darwen
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