The Revelator Band - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Whoever stole the launch strap line 'Let's Get This Party Started' was a genius...and so it proved. The Revelators are an incredible stage band. They are terrific entertainers with the beautifully hatted and totally charismatic Captain Barnaby Neale leading the party. You couldn't help feeling that the stage was far too small for him as he bounded around almost hitting the ceiling as he leaped up to tell you about his' Ball and Chain'.
This cracking tight band connected directly with the audience from the first note with tales of bad love, murdered lovers and daft romance. After a particularly black number, an aside about being available for children's parties also went down well! Moving through near punk and blues and using bongos, slide and harp, the band gave the locally influenced crowd a storming version of 'Hell Hull/Hole and Halifax' amid a set that had everyone in the palm of their hand.
The Revelator Band played the Festival last year and it is easy to see why they were back. Full of humour and bursting with talent, they set fire to the Blue Horizons stage and The Party was well and truly Started....Phew!
Showing posts with label hebden bridge blues festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hebden bridge blues festival. Show all posts
14 Dec 2015
The Revelator Band: Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2014
The Revelator Band: Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2014
A smart shuffle in the rain to one of the Free Juke Joints where The Hat met up with a familiar face, another hatted star, Captain Barnaby Neale, the exotic, charismatic and (when in character) slightly barking mad front man of The Revelator Band. He told me, tongue firmly in cheek, to make sure I used the word 'slick' if I was writing about them.
Well....er... Playing in a bar that was bursting out on to the pavement, this Band gives 200% in performance Fire and Energy. Led by the leaping bouncing Barnaby, they cracked through their set, throwing in guitar changes, harp changes, dancing, waste bin drumming and a quick squeeze box solo or two. The local audience, of course, responded with vigour to 'Hell-Hull/Hole and Halifax' and shouted for countless encores.
This band is stuffed to the brim with talent, they really enjoy themselves and they really know how to slickly (geddit?) Beat Up The Blues. Hugely entertaining as always. See Them. Book Them. Now.
A smart shuffle in the rain to one of the Free Juke Joints where The Hat met up with a familiar face, another hatted star, Captain Barnaby Neale, the exotic, charismatic and (when in character) slightly barking mad front man of The Revelator Band. He told me, tongue firmly in cheek, to make sure I used the word 'slick' if I was writing about them.
Well....er... Playing in a bar that was bursting out on to the pavement, this Band gives 200% in performance Fire and Energy. Led by the leaping bouncing Barnaby, they cracked through their set, throwing in guitar changes, harp changes, dancing, waste bin drumming and a quick squeeze box solo or two. The local audience, of course, responded with vigour to 'Hell-Hull/Hole and Halifax' and shouted for countless encores.
This band is stuffed to the brim with talent, they really enjoy themselves and they really know how to slickly (geddit?) Beat Up The Blues. Hugely entertaining as always. See Them. Book Them. Now.
Red Dirt Skinners (Something Blue) - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Red Dirt Skinners (Something Blue) - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
After Saturday night, a visit to Moyles at lunch-time to catch the Something Blue Duo felt like a dawn alarm call but boy, was it worth it. Playing a packed small room, Rob and Sarah Skinner, described recently as being 'impossibly talented' did a wonderfully polished romp through half a dozen styles of blues, blue grass, jazz, folk and americana. A sparkling sax and a range of other instruments left the audience in no doubt as to why they are Blues Award nominees.
The Hat is certain we will be seeing a lot more of this duo.
After Saturday night, a visit to Moyles at lunch-time to catch the Something Blue Duo felt like a dawn alarm call but boy, was it worth it. Playing a packed small room, Rob and Sarah Skinner, described recently as being 'impossibly talented' did a wonderfully polished romp through half a dozen styles of blues, blue grass, jazz, folk and americana. A sparkling sax and a range of other instruments left the audience in no doubt as to why they are Blues Award nominees.
The Hat is certain we will be seeing a lot more of this duo.
Rabbit Foot - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Rabbit Foot - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Unable to move for fear that an HBBF groupie might steal his place at the bar, The Hat stayed on for Rabbit Foot. Was that a smart Non Move! Not only did The Hat get to hear a fabulous set but I fear he fell totally and helplessly In Love with yet another female musician...along with 200 others.. This band is phenomenal. Just three people working a room to make it sound like an arena concert.
Fronted by the beautiful and hugely talented singer Carla Viegas firing up the African drums, Andy Whitely on bass and with Captain Jamie Morgan playing out of his skin on guitar, they really know how to party. There was a wonderful moment when the guitar and vocals exchanged echo 'fours'. Quite brilliant. Tight, fast, exciting but taking time to occasionally take a breath and woo us with a slow number, this group must surely be one of the discovery hits of the festival. It was so good to see the foot tapping and dancing and when Jamie hit the floor with probably the longest ever version of 'All Night Long' in the history of the world, you knew you had seen the Festival Party, there and then...
Unable to move for fear that an HBBF groupie might steal his place at the bar, The Hat stayed on for Rabbit Foot. Was that a smart Non Move! Not only did The Hat get to hear a fabulous set but I fear he fell totally and helplessly In Love with yet another female musician...along with 200 others.. This band is phenomenal. Just three people working a room to make it sound like an arena concert.
Fronted by the beautiful and hugely talented singer Carla Viegas firing up the African drums, Andy Whitely on bass and with Captain Jamie Morgan playing out of his skin on guitar, they really know how to party. There was a wonderful moment when the guitar and vocals exchanged echo 'fours'. Quite brilliant. Tight, fast, exciting but taking time to occasionally take a breath and woo us with a slow number, this group must surely be one of the discovery hits of the festival. It was so good to see the foot tapping and dancing and when Jamie hit the floor with probably the longest ever version of 'All Night Long' in the history of the world, you knew you had seen the Festival Party, there and then...
Rabbit Foot - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Rabbit Foot - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
The Hat gets strangely confused when watching Rabbit Foot. They are totally impossible to pin down - and this, of course is their great, great strength and They are unique in style and taking the blues world by storm - and yet - when you listen, one minute you are suddenly drumming in a Columbian village hearing Ella and George Thorogood partying like crazy and the next moment you are taken with this overpowering urge to throw shapes while Jamie Morgan and Carla Viegas whoop and swoop around each other like crazed shamen.
What is truly attractive about this duo is not that they are both superb musicians but that they enjoy it and they insist, no, make you enjoy it too. They do dirty blues. They do ecstasy blues. They do jumping blues. Class act. Hebden loves ' em.
The Hat gets strangely confused when watching Rabbit Foot. They are totally impossible to pin down - and this, of course is their great, great strength and They are unique in style and taking the blues world by storm - and yet - when you listen, one minute you are suddenly drumming in a Columbian village hearing Ella and George Thorogood partying like crazy and the next moment you are taken with this overpowering urge to throw shapes while Jamie Morgan and Carla Viegas whoop and swoop around each other like crazed shamen.
What is truly attractive about this duo is not that they are both superb musicians but that they enjoy it and they insist, no, make you enjoy it too. They do dirty blues. They do ecstasy blues. They do jumping blues. Class act. Hebden loves ' em.
Ben Poole - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Ben Poole - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
And so to Ben Poole back at Bar Place. From the moment this extraordinary young guy walked on stage The Hat knew we were in for something special. Standing front and rock solid, he took us straight into a long version of 'Have you ever loved a Woman?' and took the mood from slow and sweet to near shred. After that, the rammed audience was transfixed for the complete set.
Ben played one of the most amazing versions of the Hendrix 'Hey Joe' The Hat has ever encountered and took one of the simplest structured songs around and turned it inside out and upside down. The audience was hushed. It was breathtaking. The sheer breadth of style and skill of Ben was demonstrated throughout the evening - no less than when he did 'Ain't No Sunshine..' when together with his bass man and drummer they blew the room away. Barry
Pethers on bass was phenomenal. Although he took a few jaw-dropping solo breaks, the Hat sees him in that grand tradition of John Paul Jones from Zep and the sadly missed John Entwistle from The Who......those brilliant musicians who just stand there and do their stuff. No flash. Here it is. Enjoy.
Ben moved through different guitars and styles throughout the set and at one point with his band off the stage he even played Spanish style Gibson semi-acoustic that had us stunned with its simple dexterity. It would be easy to get too carried away by this talent and his close band. But why not say I? You will enjoy every moment of this musical prodigy and....I have to report that he didn't take his shirt off until he had been playing for an hour and a half. This is where, on behalf of those to whom fitness is important, I say...Phwoar!
And so to Ben Poole back at Bar Place. From the moment this extraordinary young guy walked on stage The Hat knew we were in for something special. Standing front and rock solid, he took us straight into a long version of 'Have you ever loved a Woman?' and took the mood from slow and sweet to near shred. After that, the rammed audience was transfixed for the complete set.
Ben played one of the most amazing versions of the Hendrix 'Hey Joe' The Hat has ever encountered and took one of the simplest structured songs around and turned it inside out and upside down. The audience was hushed. It was breathtaking. The sheer breadth of style and skill of Ben was demonstrated throughout the evening - no less than when he did 'Ain't No Sunshine..' when together with his bass man and drummer they blew the room away. Barry
Pethers on bass was phenomenal. Although he took a few jaw-dropping solo breaks, the Hat sees him in that grand tradition of John Paul Jones from Zep and the sadly missed John Entwistle from The Who......those brilliant musicians who just stand there and do their stuff. No flash. Here it is. Enjoy.
Ben moved through different guitars and styles throughout the set and at one point with his band off the stage he even played Spanish style Gibson semi-acoustic that had us stunned with its simple dexterity. It would be easy to get too carried away by this talent and his close band. But why not say I? You will enjoy every moment of this musical prodigy and....I have to report that he didn't take his shirt off until he had been playing for an hour and a half. This is where, on behalf of those to whom fitness is important, I say...Phwoar!
L.R. Phoenix - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
L.R. Phoenix - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
L.R. Phoenix could not be invented. Lives in Finland, can be very scary but is really quite unreasonably nice, sings blues, plays bottleneck, sings country, has a voice like Waits meets Howlin' and is hugely, hugely entertaining. The blues underground love him and you can see why. He brings with him not just an obvious guitar talent but there is a touch of something subversive lurking and he likes to make you feel you are in on the plot. This was a cracking set by the sharp-suited and booted L.R and there was great delight in the audience (but no real surprise!) when he announced that he was fed up with lifting his guitar - and sang his last number, majestically, acapella! A true festival star.
L.R. Phoenix could not be invented. Lives in Finland, can be very scary but is really quite unreasonably nice, sings blues, plays bottleneck, sings country, has a voice like Waits meets Howlin' and is hugely, hugely entertaining. The blues underground love him and you can see why. He brings with him not just an obvious guitar talent but there is a touch of something subversive lurking and he likes to make you feel you are in on the plot. This was a cracking set by the sharp-suited and booted L.R and there was great delight in the audience (but no real surprise!) when he announced that he was fed up with lifting his guitar - and sang his last number, majestically, acapella! A true festival star.
Angelo Palladino - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Angelo Palladino - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Then it was back to the Horizons stage for one of their massive baguettes and to listen to the fabulous Angelo Palladino. The Hat loves this artist and is quite bewitched by his idiosyncratic guitar style and absorbing self-penned songs. He played in Hebden earlier in the year and was warmly welcomed back. With a voice that sometimes brought echoes of Leonard Cohen and an easy relaxed way with his audience, he has become a Festival Favourite.
Then it was back to the Horizons stage for one of their massive baguettes and to listen to the fabulous Angelo Palladino. The Hat loves this artist and is quite bewitched by his idiosyncratic guitar style and absorbing self-penned songs. He played in Hebden earlier in the year and was warmly welcomed back. With a voice that sometimes brought echoes of Leonard Cohen and an easy relaxed way with his audience, he has become a Festival Favourite.
Northsyde - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Northsyde - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
A squillion years ago, before The Hat needed help to lift an amplifier, there was a regularly used band expression "Watch Out For The Windows". It came back to him with a bang when blues rock band Northsyde kicked off on the Electric stage. Fortunately, Yorkshire mills are made of stern stuff and held on whilst Lorna Fothergill and band threw some of the best heavy blues and blues rock at them that the Hebden Festival has ever seen....plus a little noisy soul funk goes in the mix as well. This was the real deal and the rammed room moved as one to shout/greet and punch air at every number. Singer Lorna has a raw and powerful voice and she seems to channel every rock and heavy blues singer straight from her spectacular heels to the top of her head. Dynamic doesn't really do it justice - it would be daft to reference Zep and Janis because her voice is nobody else's but hers - but her range and power would match anyone you can name. Somehow she effortlessly lifts it above her classy driving band of Jules Fothergill, Ian Mauricio and Hayden Doyle - which in itself is some achievement when they are running at full tilt. Yes, they do a bit of slow and a bit of quiet - but I'm not going to mention that. Go see for yourself. Soon. This band is moving fast.
A squillion years ago, before The Hat needed help to lift an amplifier, there was a regularly used band expression "Watch Out For The Windows". It came back to him with a bang when blues rock band Northsyde kicked off on the Electric stage. Fortunately, Yorkshire mills are made of stern stuff and held on whilst Lorna Fothergill and band threw some of the best heavy blues and blues rock at them that the Hebden Festival has ever seen....plus a little noisy soul funk goes in the mix as well. This was the real deal and the rammed room moved as one to shout/greet and punch air at every number. Singer Lorna has a raw and powerful voice and she seems to channel every rock and heavy blues singer straight from her spectacular heels to the top of her head. Dynamic doesn't really do it justice - it would be daft to reference Zep and Janis because her voice is nobody else's but hers - but her range and power would match anyone you can name. Somehow she effortlessly lifts it above her classy driving band of Jules Fothergill, Ian Mauricio and Hayden Doyle - which in itself is some achievement when they are running at full tilt. Yes, they do a bit of slow and a bit of quiet - but I'm not going to mention that. Go see for yourself. Soon. This band is moving fast.
Mississippi MacDonald - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Mississippi MacDonald - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
When you are six feet something tall, wear a red suit and a big hat and you and your colleague walk into a blues bar and announce yourselves as Mississippi MacDonald and Rosco Blues then there is a fair chance that you are either completely mad and looking for a fight, or you are a talented authentic blues duo looking to spread a little happiness.
Fortunately for the Blues Festival these two bluesmen were the real Thing. Quickly settling into a cool acoustic groove they took the hugely appreciative audience on a knowledgeable journey South,
stopping at all those traditional musical halts and raising their hats to their heroes on the way. (There was even a delightful story of Mississippi and his dad trekking to see Robert Johnson's recording studio only to find that it had been bulldozed down the day before!) The absolute purity and controlled power of MacDonald's voice is beautifully counterbalanced by Rosco's fine and delicate Sonny Terry influenced soaring harp lines. They are a perfect fit. How often do you go to a gig and hear a Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a stack of traditional numbers, the referencing of Little Lizzy Jane and, of course, the classic line that just has to be somewhere in any brilliantly played traditional set “You're so mean to me'. A great set by some serious musicians....and unsurprisingly they took two well-deserved encores.
When you are six feet something tall, wear a red suit and a big hat and you and your colleague walk into a blues bar and announce yourselves as Mississippi MacDonald and Rosco Blues then there is a fair chance that you are either completely mad and looking for a fight, or you are a talented authentic blues duo looking to spread a little happiness.
Fortunately for the Blues Festival these two bluesmen were the real Thing. Quickly settling into a cool acoustic groove they took the hugely appreciative audience on a knowledgeable journey South,
stopping at all those traditional musical halts and raising their hats to their heroes on the way. (There was even a delightful story of Mississippi and his dad trekking to see Robert Johnson's recording studio only to find that it had been bulldozed down the day before!) The absolute purity and controlled power of MacDonald's voice is beautifully counterbalanced by Rosco's fine and delicate Sonny Terry influenced soaring harp lines. They are a perfect fit. How often do you go to a gig and hear a Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a stack of traditional numbers, the referencing of Little Lizzy Jane and, of course, the classic line that just has to be somewhere in any brilliantly played traditional set “You're so mean to me'. A great set by some serious musicians....and unsurprisingly they took two well-deserved encores.
Paddy Milner & Marcus Bonfanti - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Paddy Milner & Marcus Bonfanti - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Back at the Blue Horizons stage Paddy Milner and Marcus Bonfanti were getting an excitable packed house fighting for oxygen. These guys start at 100 miles an hour and just get faster. (I am a touch biased as Paddy was playing on The Hat's keyboards and after this beating they will probably never sound the same again). Their collaborations are an exciting new development in the blues world and they clearly have an almost symbiotic relationship that makes them seem to be joined at the hip. Huge love from the audience is reciprocated and this was a devastating set that went from roof-raising, keyboard pounding and guitar shred to subtle, tender and moving. They were here last year. We love 'em. We may have to kidnap them and lock them up to ensure they come back again.....
Back at the Blue Horizons stage Paddy Milner and Marcus Bonfanti were getting an excitable packed house fighting for oxygen. These guys start at 100 miles an hour and just get faster. (I am a touch biased as Paddy was playing on The Hat's keyboards and after this beating they will probably never sound the same again). Their collaborations are an exciting new development in the blues world and they clearly have an almost symbiotic relationship that makes them seem to be joined at the hip. Huge love from the audience is reciprocated and this was a devastating set that went from roof-raising, keyboard pounding and guitar shred to subtle, tender and moving. They were here last year. We love 'em. We may have to kidnap them and lock them up to ensure they come back again.....
Paddy Milner & Marcus Bonfanti - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Paddy Milner & Marcus Bonfanti - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
The Hat has written a good few words about Marcus Bonfanti and Paddy Milner - although not as many as the notes they hammer into a lot of their
numbers - so they'll forgive him for this short paragraph. These two with their fantastic symbiotic musical relationship have played every Hebden Festival. They sit at the high table which is where you sit the big boys and girls. They play 'Take Five' for fun, 'Cheap Whisky' to thrill and everything for huge pleasure. You get picked up, carried along, get involved, open your mouth, gulp, dance the bad boogie and they'll never let you go once they've got you.They dedicated 'Grits ain't Groceries' to head honcho Jason for his graft in the kitchen. Proper nice blokes. Fabulous musicians. If you took them away The Hat worries that the building might fall down.
The Hat has written a good few words about Marcus Bonfanti and Paddy Milner - although not as many as the notes they hammer into a lot of their
numbers - so they'll forgive him for this short paragraph. These two with their fantastic symbiotic musical relationship have played every Hebden Festival. They sit at the high table which is where you sit the big boys and girls. They play 'Take Five' for fun, 'Cheap Whisky' to thrill and everything for huge pleasure. You get picked up, carried along, get involved, open your mouth, gulp, dance the bad boogie and they'll never let you go once they've got you.They dedicated 'Grits ain't Groceries' to head honcho Jason for his graft in the kitchen. Proper nice blokes. Fabulous musicians. If you took them away The Hat worries that the building might fall down.
Cherry Lee Mewis - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Cherry Lee Mewis - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Cherry Lee Mewis manages to get some skiffle on to her terrific most recent CD and her reputation for being able to mix up the genres was endorsed by this set. If you've got Mud Morganfield, Seasick Steve, Albert Lee and Walter Trout on your credits, you know that this lady can do anything and brilliantly - and she did, delivering a cracking set with one of the tightest bands of the week-end. A Festival Favourite, Cherry topped a fabulous evening with style, class and a stage full of Sassy, Sassy and Sassy....
Cherry Lee Mewis manages to get some skiffle on to her terrific most recent CD and her reputation for being able to mix up the genres was endorsed by this set. If you've got Mud Morganfield, Seasick Steve, Albert Lee and Walter Trout on your credits, you know that this lady can do anything and brilliantly - and she did, delivering a cracking set with one of the tightest bands of the week-end. A Festival Favourite, Cherry topped a fabulous evening with style, class and a stage full of Sassy, Sassy and Sassy....
Alex McKown - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Alex McKown - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Alex McKown, second time nominee for a British Blues Young Artist award has been lauded by The Hat before and I last saw him at the great Newark Blues Festival. Crikey - what a difference a few more months on the road can make. Here was a cracking mature performance from an old pro. Having had not one, but two car calamities on the way to Hebden, Alex got the black cloud's
Seriously Silver Lining with stand-in back line of Layla and Joey from Detroit Breakdown. Standing solidly on his right side was the Sheffield stellar saxophonist Simon Peat who has accompanied Rod Stewart, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner in the past when he is not fronting his own group. Far from being phased in such company, Alex fronted a fantastic energy pumped set with a new found voice and frequently swapped frenetic exchanges with all of his bandsmen that got the lively crowd hollering in appreciation. Exciting, breathless, uplifting, jaw dropping – and no, I'm not going to harp on about his age...suffice to say that, if this is the future then it's in pretty safe hands.
Alex McKown, second time nominee for a British Blues Young Artist award has been lauded by The Hat before and I last saw him at the great Newark Blues Festival. Crikey - what a difference a few more months on the road can make. Here was a cracking mature performance from an old pro. Having had not one, but two car calamities on the way to Hebden, Alex got the black cloud's
Seriously Silver Lining with stand-in back line of Layla and Joey from Detroit Breakdown. Standing solidly on his right side was the Sheffield stellar saxophonist Simon Peat who has accompanied Rod Stewart, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner in the past when he is not fronting his own group. Far from being phased in such company, Alex fronted a fantastic energy pumped set with a new found voice and frequently swapped frenetic exchanges with all of his bandsmen that got the lively crowd hollering in appreciation. Exciting, breathless, uplifting, jaw dropping – and no, I'm not going to harp on about his age...suffice to say that, if this is the future then it's in pretty safe hands.
Aynsley Lister - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Aynsley Lister - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Aynsley Lister is one of those guitarists that real die-hards with fixed views about their blues have terrible trouble with. Not so The Hat, who loves the rule breakers. Anyone who can start a set at a hundred miles an hour, stop off briefly for a slow blues, divert for a short self-penned tribute to the TV series 'Life on Mars' and finish up with a standing ovation whilst playing a stunning 'Purple Rain' gets The Hat's vote every time.This was proper headlining at a grown-up Blues Festival. Clearly we were in the company of an accomplished musician but also one who could both get the audience involved with numbers like the shouty chorused 'Straight Talking Woman' and then get the place quietened down with a beautiful self-penned tribute to a Friend.
Many of the numbers were from his soon to be released album 'Home' which is clearly going to be an essential purchase for fans. Aynsley has also surrounded himself with a top flight close-knit band and in particular his keyboard man shone when they played a delicate extended version of 'Feelin' Good'.
Aynsley is the classic blues crossover artist and is clearly as much at home on a rock based stage as he is on a pure blues based one - indeed, in the past, he has toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd and played Glastonbury with huge success. At Hebden he managed to bring that complete range of styles to the stage and deliver them brilliantly with elan and style to an ecstatic audience.
Aynsley Lister is one of those guitarists that real die-hards with fixed views about their blues have terrible trouble with. Not so The Hat, who loves the rule breakers. Anyone who can start a set at a hundred miles an hour, stop off briefly for a slow blues, divert for a short self-penned tribute to the TV series 'Life on Mars' and finish up with a standing ovation whilst playing a stunning 'Purple Rain' gets The Hat's vote every time.This was proper headlining at a grown-up Blues Festival. Clearly we were in the company of an accomplished musician but also one who could both get the audience involved with numbers like the shouty chorused 'Straight Talking Woman' and then get the place quietened down with a beautiful self-penned tribute to a Friend.
Many of the numbers were from his soon to be released album 'Home' which is clearly going to be an essential purchase for fans. Aynsley has also surrounded himself with a top flight close-knit band and in particular his keyboard man shone when they played a delicate extended version of 'Feelin' Good'.
Aynsley is the classic blues crossover artist and is clearly as much at home on a rock based stage as he is on a pure blues based one - indeed, in the past, he has toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd and played Glastonbury with huge success. At Hebden he managed to bring that complete range of styles to the stage and deliver them brilliantly with elan and style to an ecstatic audience.
Paul Lamb and The Detroit Breakdown - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Paul Lamb and The Detroit Breakdown - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Paul Lamb and The Detroit Breakdown don't take prisoners. You just get what is written all over the tin and from the first note there is no messing about as they take you straight into a ten minute roaring blues rock number complete with Yabbadabbadoo shout out. Paul is backed by the astonishing powerhouse of Layla and Joey and tight together they drove their mix of savage seventies blues rock and modern downtown Detroit blues straight deep into the heart of the evening. This is a brilliant, thrilling and roaring trio who lifted the roof off the venerable old Hebden Chapel and it will surely never be the same again. As they said in one of their self-penned numbers "There Goes The Neighbourhood"...and didn't we just love it...
Paul Lamb and The Detroit Breakdown don't take prisoners. You just get what is written all over the tin and from the first note there is no messing about as they take you straight into a ten minute roaring blues rock number complete with Yabbadabbadoo shout out. Paul is backed by the astonishing powerhouse of Layla and Joey and tight together they drove their mix of savage seventies blues rock and modern downtown Detroit blues straight deep into the heart of the evening. This is a brilliant, thrilling and roaring trio who lifted the roof off the venerable old Hebden Chapel and it will surely never be the same again. As they said in one of their self-penned numbers "There Goes The Neighbourhood"...and didn't we just love it...
Jo Harman - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Jo Harman - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
The Hebden Chapel was the perfect venue for headliner Jo Harman. Bestriding the stage, in front of the pulpit, she took ownership of the place and her Congregation just lapped it up.
The exciting thing about this singer is not just the sheer power and quality of her voice but the manner in which she uses it. Whatever the number - and the set contained a vast range of material - she brought to it all the subtleties and nuances that only a fine and accomplished artist can. Deep and heart-felt soul with drawn-out and movingly sustained power, stomping bluesy up-beat, the sparse and tender phrasing and even swinging jazz phrase elision were all perfectly pitched for the evening. The audience jumped from whooping and hollering to leaning forward and hanging on every word - and back again.
Although Jo is apparently lining up big audience venues, it seems to The Hat at least that this kind of gig - where she could almost touch the audience vocally - shows all her strengths and talents at their very best. Her involvement with her songs, as she is singing them, is tangible and her knowledgeable audience knew and understood that. Surrounded by a band of superbly professional and understated musicians who complemented her perfectly, Jo delivered a true Headliner's set.
The Hebden Chapel was the perfect venue for headliner Jo Harman. Bestriding the stage, in front of the pulpit, she took ownership of the place and her Congregation just lapped it up.
The exciting thing about this singer is not just the sheer power and quality of her voice but the manner in which she uses it. Whatever the number - and the set contained a vast range of material - she brought to it all the subtleties and nuances that only a fine and accomplished artist can. Deep and heart-felt soul with drawn-out and movingly sustained power, stomping bluesy up-beat, the sparse and tender phrasing and even swinging jazz phrase elision were all perfectly pitched for the evening. The audience jumped from whooping and hollering to leaning forward and hanging on every word - and back again.
Although Jo is apparently lining up big audience venues, it seems to The Hat at least that this kind of gig - where she could almost touch the audience vocally - shows all her strengths and talents at their very best. Her involvement with her songs, as she is singing them, is tangible and her knowledgeable audience knew and understood that. Surrounded by a band of superbly professional and understated musicians who complemented her perfectly, Jo delivered a true Headliner's set.
Stuart James - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Stuart James - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Sprinting the fifty yards back to Blue Horizon (joke), The Hat was overwhelmed by Stuart James. He has played with Dr Feelgood and Joe Bonamassa and ain't no slouch. Playing hard-drive rock blues, Stuart takes no prisoners and just smashed it brilliantly to the delight of a packed house. The Hat has to report a Magic Festival Moment. Just as Stuart kicked into the Rory Gallacher number 'Baby I Want You', our Paddy Maguire (Rory's biggest fan) walked in. It was Rory's birthday as well. Paddy's beam could have powered the Main Stage for a week.
Sprinting the fifty yards back to Blue Horizon (joke), The Hat was overwhelmed by Stuart James. He has played with Dr Feelgood and Joe Bonamassa and ain't no slouch. Playing hard-drive rock blues, Stuart takes no prisoners and just smashed it brilliantly to the delight of a packed house. The Hat has to report a Magic Festival Moment. Just as Stuart kicked into the Rory Gallacher number 'Baby I Want You', our Paddy Maguire (Rory's biggest fan) walked in. It was Rory's birthday as well. Paddy's beam could have powered the Main Stage for a week.
Jenna Hooson - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Jenna Hooson - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
Unsurprisingly, the Women of The Blues night was one of the most eagerly anticipated of the Festival and they delivered - and some. Then Hooson nearly burned down the Picture House. Never has front lady Jenna Hooson been on better form. The understated Richard Kershaw is one of those rare guitarists who can do it all but in such a subtle way that you are hardly aware he has got all the good notes – and the Hooson backline is as solid as a titanium rock. Audience on its feet, dancers throwing shapes and cries for more. From Janice Joplin roar to self-penned love blues 'Every Now And Then' - what else can you ask. No wonder this band is rocket-powered upwards in the business.....why has no-one signed them up?
Unsurprisingly, the Women of The Blues night was one of the most eagerly anticipated of the Festival and they delivered - and some. Then Hooson nearly burned down the Picture House. Never has front lady Jenna Hooson been on better form. The understated Richard Kershaw is one of those rare guitarists who can do it all but in such a subtle way that you are hardly aware he has got all the good notes – and the Hooson backline is as solid as a titanium rock. Audience on its feet, dancers throwing shapes and cries for more. From Janice Joplin roar to self-penned love blues 'Every Now And Then' - what else can you ask. No wonder this band is rocket-powered upwards in the business.....why has no-one signed them up?
Steve Fulsham Band - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
Steve Fulsham Band - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
A short sentence to point you in the direction of the terrific Steve Fulsham Band playing at one of the free gigs to much acclaim. To walk in to a bar off the street and find a tight trio playing two Buddy Guys back to back with style and skill is always a thrill. Go look for them.
A short sentence to point you in the direction of the terrific Steve Fulsham Band playing at one of the free gigs to much acclaim. To walk in to a bar off the street and find a tight trio playing two Buddy Guys back to back with style and skill is always a thrill. Go look for them.
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