Stanley Blues 2005

The Yardbirds headline Stanley Blues.
The Coxhoe Cameraman

Well here we are agin bloggers, the first Saturday in August, the start of the Coca Cola Football league and the 13th Stanley Blues Festival.

Not a day to be missed and the line up was as good as ever. There must have been close on 10,000 or maybe a few more there today and they were not let down by the quality of the music. First up were The Urge, a blues rock band with John Miles Junior displaying the skills honed by his fatha, no doubt on lead guitar. One to watch.

The John Whitehill Band are a solid R and B outfit with a great singer. This is blues at it's best. Watch out for them if they are ever down our way or if you fancy a night out at a blues club and they are on it's worth the trip. Solid.

Studebaker John a Mississippi slide guitarist of real quality. Pity his vocal were'nt as strong, probably the PA not up to full max. Still a showman and worth a look. Short set, cos he was off to play in Edinburgh the neet.

Lightnin Willie and the Poor Boys. Absolute show stopper and brought the house down with his Chicago blues with a touch of roackabilly thrown in. Really excellent.

Sharrie Williams and the Wiseguys, Gospel singing of the highest order. Has a real rough edge to her. Not my favourite but a solid set.

The Yardbirds. Credited with bringing rock music to our ears. Tight musically, witha singer / bass guitarist, reminiscent of a young Mick Jagger. Played old favourites like For your Love and Shape of things to come, but raised the roof with Dazed and Confused, that old Zep classic.

A great day out. Plenty beer, nee bother. Well none to speak of really but thats another tale