The British Blues Awards & Newark blues Festival 2010

The weather men got it totally wrong, the forecast was rain and more rain all weekend Saturday morning started a bit bleak, dull and damp but as the morning progressed, the weather improved and proved the forecasters wrong, thank goodness for that.

A stroll around the music workshops, we found about a dozen boys and girls all under sixteen listening and playing blues chords, from this collection of school children a group of kids would perform on the main stage at 11.00am, and true enough not one collection of kids but two who played their hearts out on the big stage, first up Erosion featuring 13 year old vocalist Charlotte Coleman certainly a young lady to watch out for, at this age has stage presence and a good voice and then BluesPrint, the last act on this early morning show was the young guitarist singer Alex Mckown, Alex has played most British festivals this year and is developing his own style of entertaining the faithful fans, even down to emulating his hero’s (Hamilton Loomis) crowd walk about.

Billed as “Here Come the Girls” two female acts followed, starting with Delta Maid, now I thought this was going to be a band but turned out to be solo female artist from Merseyside, excellent voice coping with being on stage like an old pro, folksier than blues but a name to remember.

Second act Chantel McGregor needed no introduction, but just as she was about to start the MC for the day read out the first Blues Award which was presented to none other than Paul Jones for Harmonica Player of the year, Paul accepted his award and was asked to play a number with Chantel and her band which he gladly accepted and had the Newark crowd calling for more, Paul Jones unfortunately couldn’t stay as he was on his way to a gig in North Yorkshire, but what a way to start the awards.

Now up till now 4.00pm everything had been free, the MC’s asked everyone to clear the Castle grounds and to everyone’s amazement the place was empty, at 5.00pm the gates were opened and the people came back in this time paying for the pleasure.

Now up till now 4.00pm everything had been free, the MC’s asked everyone to clear the Castle grounds and to everyone’s amazement the place was empty, at 5.00pm the gates were opened and the people came back in this time paying for the pleasure.

5.30 and Virgil & The Accelerators started the evening session, another young band and relatively new to most people who have had a fantastic 12 months, from nowhere to most festivals, this band will be around for a long time, young, talented and learning all of the time.
Next onto the stage came Kevin Thorpe’s Tipping Point, Kevin has been around the blues scene in the UK for many, many years, his new band with a completely new set of original numbers really got it together and performed a set of blues music of the highest calibre, to a very appreciative crowd.

Sadly shortly after his set Kevin collapsed with what we think was a heart attack and passed away in hospital.

Sean Webster Band were a lot of peoples pick of the weekend, his set had everything you could ask for passion, fun, excitement and a firm believe in what he wanted play, the blues, well done Sean.
Aynsley Lister had the honour of closing the festival, again Aynsley surprised a lot of people including me with a very much back to the blues set, recently Aynsley seemed to be taking the rockier road, but tonight he was on top form as were his excellent band.

Oli Brown picked up two awards Blues Vocalist & Young Band Awards, Joanne Shaw Taylor received the Female Vocalist with Ian Siegal Band picking up best Band of 2010.

Barry Middleton