MARYPORT BLUES FESTIVAL, 23-25 JULY 2010
If you haven't already marked the weekend of 23rd to 25th July in your diary, you should do so without delay because Maryport Blues Festival promises to be a real treat for music lovers.
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This long-running festival, set in the small Cumbrian harbour town of Maryport, has become famous for its top-quality music and unique atmosphere. Every year, over 40 bands and 150 individual musicians from all over the world perform in the main stage marquee, in the many pubs and clubs and on an outdoor stage and on the streets, to thousands of visitors from all over the UK and further afield.
Locals and visitors have commented:
‘A great weekend - really enjoyed it.'
‘I'm a regular blues fan, have attended every festival and it just gets better. Got to be the best in the country.'
‘I just met someone from New Orleans. There are people here from all over the world.'
Maryport Blues Festival also has a special place in the hearts of the musicians who come here. Jools Holland, who has played Maryport twice, was heard to say backstage ‘great atmosphere, very responsive crowd'. And top blues musician Ian Siegal says: ‘Maryport is one of my favourite gigs to play, mainly because it caters for a variety of musical tastes rather than taking a narrow cross-section of what is an extremely broad genre. Long may it last.'
So, what's on offer for this year's festival goers? Headliners are still being confirmed as we go to press. However, they already include The Robert Cray Band. Cray has worked with such music legends as B.B. King, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters, and is known as one of the most expressive vocalists and impressive guitarists on today's music scene. During his long-running career, he has blended rhythm and blues, rock, pop, gospel and traditional blues to create a really contemporary blues sound.
Another band getting top billing will be The Hoax, arguably the most influential British Blues band of the last 20 years. The Hoax blasted through the 1990s, winning numerous awards and establishing themselves as one of the most exciting live acts of the decade. Then, in 1999, as the century reached its conclusion, so did The Hoax, with the five members parting ways, leaving a gaping hole in the British blues scene. To mark their 20th anniversary in 2010, the Hoax have reunited for a world tour and Maryport is fortunate to be one of the venues chosen to be part of this. Q Magazine said of The Hoax: ‘The last time Englishmen played blues-rock with such fire and conviction, they had names like The Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and The Rolling Stones'.
Other world-class acts confirmed for the main stage include Marcus Bonfanti who, according to the Guardian, ‘deserves to become the next British blues guitar hero', exciting five-piece band Hokie Joint, and Bex Marshall, a Devonshire lass with an earthy, whisky-soaked voice, whose sound has been described as ‘Bonnie Raitt and Led Zep jamming in an everglade'. Gregg Wright, an electrifying live performer from the US who ranks among the world's elite blues guitarists, will be appearing on Friday evening; and Paddy Milner and The Big Sounds, one of the most original and energetic bands on the UK blues scene, will play on Saturday. The Rory Ellis Duo will be opening the Sunday afternoon session with their road-worn blues/country-influenced songs, dished up in true Aussie roots fashion, with acoustic guitar, banjo and lap steel guitar. And Sunday evening audiences will be treated to the soulful singing, uplifting gospel harmonies and unsurpassed musicianship of The Holmes Brothers, who hail from Virginia, USA. Opening the main stage on Friday evening will be local up-and-coming young blues band, Feed Me, who won this honour by triumphing in Maryport's annual Battle of the Bands.
Away from the main stage, there will be nearly 20 visiting blues artists and bands performing on the now famous Blues Trail in the clubs and pubs around town over the festival weekend. With hundreds of bands applying each year from all over the UK and Europe, the calibre is exceptionally high. Indeed, many of Maryport's trail bands are main stage performers at other festivals, and the small charge made for a weekend or one-day trail wristband (allowing access to all trail venues) represents extremely good value for money. These bands will be travelling from all corners of the UK and playing every blues genre, from blues rock, funk and swing to country blues and boogie woogie. The 12th festival brings both familiar and new faces to the trail, including The Bluekings, The Bridgewater Blues Band, The Deluxe, The Fuschi 3, Green Mac, The Harpbreakers, Jasmine Rodgers, Karac, Little Stevie and the Business, The Paul Rose Band, The Revolutionaires, Robin Bibi, The Roy Mette Band, Sean Taylor, Simon Currie, The Steelyard Blues Band, Tantrum, The Tommy Allen Band and 24 Pesos.
West Cumbria is home to a great deal of musical talent and the best local bands will also be entertaining both locals and visitors. These bands play everything from blues and rock to indie and pop, and you can see them at The Wave Centre, Grasslot Club and the very popular open-air stage on Shipping Brow.
Whether you plan to buy tickets for the famous acts in the main marquee or fancy soaking up the atmosphere in town, Maryport Blues Festival will certainly be a weekend to remember. So don't forget to mark those dates in your diary...
You can find out more by visiting the festival website: HYPERLINK "http://www.maryportblues.co.uk" www.maryportblues.co.uk
