The New Brunswick Battle of the Blues Bands Heat - The Greyhound - Beeston

Well the much anticipated New Brunswick Battle of The Blues Bands took place at The Greyhound. Beeston on Friday Jan 21st and as expected the standard was very high, six bands from across the country playing 15 minutes minimum to 20 minutes maximum of blues, the rules stated that each band had to play one self penned number and the rest could be covers.

First band to the stage were local band Bluesdog who did three all original numbers in their allotted time but only used 15 minutes could easily have done another number, the band set a high standard with the quality of the material they played, the only mistake they made was only using up 15minutes and wasting 5minute which could have been another number.

Next on stage 491 Blues, now these guys had really gone to town dressing in smart 50’s style suits and shoes, but as far as the content it was far from stylish the band played three standards and one original but came over as a “pub band”, guitar player had a lovely tone but the harmonica player was distinctly below average, this band was never going to progress any further, but thanks for entering
.
Cherry Lee Mewes Band took to the stage with two acoustic guitarists, one playing slide on a “Dobro” guitar which was used to great effect with Cherry’s fine voice winning most people in the room over to her side, also there was no drummer in this band so again the vocalist did not have to compete with a drum kit to be heard, the band managed to get some rapport with crowd as well as getting in five numbers in the allotted time of 20 minutes.

Steve French Band, the band I thought had the best rhythm section on the night but for some reason Steve French seemed to lose the plot after the first few bars and unfortunately after that they were never in it a shame really I have seen this band several times before and tonight they just lost it, shame

The results after a very tight count back was the Winner:
The Cherry Lee Mewes Band
Two Runners up who will go forward for the video vote’s stage:
Virgil & The Accelerators & Albany Down
The Grand Final will be held at The 100 Club, Oxford Street, London on March 29th with the winning band or artist having the fantastic opportunity of flying to New Brunswick and performing at the world-renowned Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton in September 2011.

Barry Middleton