Maryport Blues Festival 2007
Friday 27th July 2007
www.maryportblues.com

Musician Mark started playing the drums 10 years ago. He joined local group The Answer, which opened the festival two years ago, after blues band Stealer, which he co-founded, dissolved. In 2006, he joined blues outfit Sidewinder. Mark compared the festival's Battle of the Bands contests in 2006 and 2007. His musical influences are wide-ranging - Black Sabbath to Rush, John Lee Hooker to Stevie Ray Vaughan.
 

Following the introduction and speeches from the local dignitaries’ West Cumbrian band South Quay got the festival underway. South Quay were formed with one aim - to play Maryport Blues Festival 2007! Having got together for three rehearsals three weeks before the local 'Battle of the Bands' competition, the band was delighted (if a little shocked!) to win the coveted opening slot on the main stage. It was even more delighted to discover it would be opening for Gary Moore!

This young band, fronted by powerful female singer Keri Farish, backed by Paul Mackay on guitar, Paul Williamson on bass and Tom Oldfield on drums, played a set of mostly covers including Some Kind of Wonderful, Summertime and Stay With Me Baby.
 

Formed in the early 1980s by Tim Elliott and John Bruce, the Scottish band Blues n'Trouble have guested with many blues greats including BB King, Robert Cray, Pinetop Perkins, Charlie Musselwhite, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells. Often playing around 250 shows a year all over the U.K., Scandinavia & Europe. They have appeared at festivals throughout the world including the prestigious Memphis Blues Festival. They now have 10 albums behind them. The line up is Tim Elliott vocals and harp, Mike Park slide and lead guitar, Gus Boyd bass guitar, Sandy Tweeddale guitar and Andy Munroe drums.

These veterans of the blues circuit performed an enjoyable set including I Don’t Know, Downtown Saturday Night, Red Wine Boogaloo, The Dark Street (a Howlin’ Wolf style number with slide guitar) and the late great Cyril Davis solo harmonica number Traintime.
 

Eric Bibb took to the stage in his trademark Panama hat supported by Danny Thompson on upright bass and Larry Crocket on drums. Eric played excellent acoustic guitar in a number of open and standard tunings with his voice on fine form allowing him to effortlessly communicate with the audience. The material ranged from blues standards, Going Down Slow and Stagger Lee, through to material from his many albums and own self penned material including Still Livin’ On, Tell Old Bill, Connected, Right On Time, We Shall Not Be Moved including audience sing-along and Needed Time. This was an excellent performance from Eric and his band.
 

Headliner for the Friday night was Gary Moore supported by Brian Downey on drums and Pete Rees on bass. Tonight Gary was showcasing numbers from his new album Close As You Get including 30 Days, I Can’t Tell, I Had a Dream (with Roy Buchanan style bends on a Telecaster) and Have you Heard? Gary featured other material from his blues period including Oh Pretty Woman, All My Lovin’, Still Got The Blues and the sing-along Walking By Myself. A surprise for the night was the Thin Lizzy classic Don’t Believe a Word. The encore featured The Blues Is Alright plus an instrumental (Danny Boyish) that led into Parisienne Walkways.

Gary used an assortment of guitars throughout the set including various Gibson Les Pauls, Gibson ES335 and a number of Fender Telecasters.

As usual Gary rarely communicated with the audience but the large audience enjoyed the set as evidenced by the applause ringing into the night.