Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Day 3. I want to stay for ever....Goodnight...

Day Three and I'm Dazed and Confused.....

Some calorie-nervous readers may wish to avoid the next sentence or two. Not long ago The Hat was given a giant box of chocolates of the multi-assorted variety. Two layers separated by expensive paper and a diagram of what was what. Silver and Gold wrappers, striped and spotted, all singing loudly - from various corners of the box - that famous Twelve Bar "I'm yours, I'm yours, signed, sealed and delivered". It was no contest. It would have been rude not have joined in. You will know the rest of this story, so readers with the sound turned down can join in again......

The Hat was whisked back to that moment when confronted by the listings for the third and final day of the Festival. Although now pretty well practised in the regular Festival-Goers art of pickin'n choosin' across the venues, the quality and range of talent on offer on Sunday was such that The Hat was inevitably going to miss some exotic gems. So apologies for that, if I didn't make it to your gig. It's me, not you – as they say in popular love songs these days. Sorry - I want you to know that we love you so keep on heading down to The Crossroads.

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. 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.

The Hat can only describe Dave Arcari as a man who does not play blues for the faint-hearted. You really would want him on your side in a Guitar Street Battle. Although off-stage he is a sweet and charming man, on stage H.G.Wells intervenes and he turns into a roaring and towering, spectacularly talented raw blues musicman.With the occasional beer in hand and an intimidating head-on engagement with his captured audience, this is exciting music. Scotsman Dave plays brilliant slide guitar and Delta blues and yet just when you are not looking he manages to inject it with wild trash country and even punk. Hugely entertaining, he has played Glastonbury and across Europe. I have no idea what they made of him in Estonia but Hebden loved him.

For some obviously colourful reasons, The Hat enjoys the jokes that the charismatic Tom Attah tells as part of his relaxed rapport with the audience. However, the fall-about patter does nothing to stop you from being totally aware that this is a seriously accomplished guitarist who understands the meaning, history and styles of blues playing and delivers them to you in an articulate and intelligent way. He is not above riffing off into tales of Barnsley, acting and burlesque and his number on nice Lucy the dancer otherwise known as Bam-Bam brought the house down - and yet the next minute he wheels out Son House and Howlin', the audience silences and we know we are listening to a proper bluesman. Top drawer.

A trip across the road to the Main Stage encountered Russ Tippins. Have you ever had one of those moments when you walk into a gig and the guitar stops you in your tracks and you have to stand still until the number finishes? This happened to The Hat on encountering Russ in the middle of playing a slow blues. The spirits of Page and Moore soared round the place as his guitar gently wept and you knew you were in the presence of something  very special. His back line of bass and drums was, in the view of the Hat one of the tightest and best at the Festival and when he broke into the ripping fast 'Electrickery' this trio simply flew as one. This is a guy who can give you an acoustic Classical Gas in a small bar and yet plays such dynamic guitar he can, and in my view, should be filling major venues. Major, major man.

Unsurprisingly, the Women of The Blues night was one of the most eagerly anticipated of the Festival and they delivered - and some. Lucy Zirins giggled and charmed her way into our hearts as usual but her wonderful 'I am just a wee lass from Burnley' schtick didn't divert us from knowing that this is a hugely talented singer-song writer who has the power to rip our hearts out with a sad song and put a smile straight back with a cheery and wistful tale of when things are ok. Listening to Lucy is like sampling a fine wine after drinking the regular stuff. Beautiful songs, beautifully sung. A small glass of 'Tearing Me Down' is something special. Gotta go get some more but be careful, you may just have to get more hankies...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? 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....

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.....

The Hat would like to write a whole blog on the Paddy Maguire Midnite Jams. I shall not. I shall just write those two words that you use when you are 'in the 'hood getting it down with the groovers'..."Totally Awesome". The Hat knows that all of you patient, hip, articulate and diligent readers get my meaning. The last night involved Cherry and Jenna singing with Todd and Todd jamming with Paddy and then there was Lucy and TJ and then that star Ron Sayer Jun getting alongside that star and that star and then mixing this and then mixing that (pause for breath).. It was just a wonderful Stramash - which, to you my friends, could be a 'goal-mouth scramble' or it could be just 'a disturbance'. How Appropriate. What a wonderful way to wrap up a Fabulous Three Day Party...

In the words of all the Crew....Goodnight.

Pip Pip!

The Man in The Hat