Maryport Bitter and Blues Festival 2006
Saturday Evening 29th July 2006 - Main Marquee Stage
Reviews by Courtland Bresner    Photos by Alan White

The evening session opened with Dave Kelly and Paul Jones, both long standing members of the British blues scene and also members of the Blues Band. This set was purely acoustic with Dave singing and playing some fine slide guitar on two borrowed guitars and Paul providing vocals and harp. The duo alternated vocal duties throughout the set adding anecdotes from playing with visiting bluesmen between songs. Songs played during the set included When the Levee Breaks, Key to the Highway, Come On In My Kitchen, Write Me a Few Short Lines and Paul’s first written blues song Without You from the Manfred Mann days. The set concluded with Dust My Broom.
 

First on stage was the frail 92 years old Homesick James Williamson one time member of the Elmore James band who, once getting the correct guitar, provided slide driven versions of My Baby’s Gone, Whiskey Headed Woman, You Gotta Move and The Sky is Crying. Homesick’s timing was erratic but it was great to see and hear this legend live on stage.
 

Robert Lockwood Jr, also 91 years old, was the final Delta Blues Legend onto the stage. Robert Jr, stepson of Robert Johnson, didn’t disappoint. Playing an electric twelve string Guild his set consisted mostly of covers of Robert Johnson songs including Love In Vain, Stop Breaking Down, 32-20 Blues and Steady Rollin’ Man. Robert Jr closed his set with C C Rider. This is the nearest anyone can get to hearing the original performances of Robert Johnson. The audience loved it.
 

As a finale all three got together on stage to perform Sweet Home Chicago.


 

Closing the Saturday night was the ever popular Paul Lamb and the King Snakes. Paul played a mixture of chromatic and cross harp ably supported by the band during a set of mostly original material including She’s Crazy, This World We’re Living In, Sugaree. Paul did his usual Sonny Terry impression on Easy Rider.