Upton upon Severn Blues Festival

Posted by ChickenboneJohn on July 13, 2011 at 5:28pm

A quick reminder in case you're not aware, this weekend is Upton upon Severn Blues Festival (it's all free apart from the camping). I'm running an all day open mic. at The White Lion, so feel free to drop in and join us...I'm also pleased to announce that Hollowbelly will be playing in the evening, and we'll be rounding off the night with a set by my band  ChickenboneBlues, full 5 piece lineup feat Dave Smith (harp) and Freddie Pirotta (keys).

 

I'll be in town on Friday evening, and also I'm doing an acoustic trio on the River Sever "Blues Cruise on Sunday at 1.00pm. After that, me and HB and my bass player are rushing up to Birmingham to play the Warley Woods Picnic in the Park.

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  • ChickenboneJohn July 18, 2011 at 11:09am
    That was Charlie "Bad News" Mitton...he's got a certain amount of a reputation (not to say notoriety) round these parts. ...Yes, gargling with booze is probably about right, but he's off the sauce right now.  He's somewhat of an everyman's existentialist philosopher...he's on Facebook, so check him out for some of his interesting reflections on life, blues, the universe and general weirdness with an extra helping of numerology theory and stuff like that...
  • Mark July 18, 2011 at 11:01am
    BTW. Who was that bloke Charlie something or the other...?  Seemed like a bit of a character, voice sounded like he spent a long time either in boozy smoke filled bars or gargling with sandpaper.
  • Mark July 17, 2011 at 6:26pm

    Upton certainly is a great little festival - they do a fantastic job to get something that substantial together and keep it all free. I was there on Saturday afternoon and caught some superb music. HB and Chickenbone John's crew did their usual fine jobs even though the room at the White Lion presented a few challenges. I think you could describe it as an intimate venue and it sure was warm inside - but then I guess the blues first flourished in the sweltering heat of the deep south, so no change there then. I had to bail long before the end of the evening (because the girlfriend wanted her car back) but it certainly seemed that everyone was having a fine time. Sorry I didn't manage to catch more CB nation folk to chat.

    Elsewhere in town I thoroughly enjoyed the Outwood County Riders, a three-piece from Leicester who make a storming good sound with a strong nod to R. L. Burnside.  Also very worthy of mention were Babajack, who some here may remember from last year's CBG Fest - they were doing a fine job hosting the acoustic stage at Upton.

    Roll on next time indeed.

  • ChickenboneJohn July 17, 2011 at 2:01pm

    Well..Upton was great...we had nice Friday evening just chilling out and catching up with a few old friends, mingling with the crowds that were thronging the quaint streets and quaysides of Upton. Saturday was a long hard day, down to the venue at around 11.00am to set up ..playing and hosting for the open mic all day until around 7.00pm, a quick break, then on with the evening show at 8.30pm.  Kev opened up the evening, warming up the room...a tough, tough job, but they were a welcoming and appreciate audience...then Holowobelly truly ripped up the place. I did two sets with my band ChickenboneBlues, and I had on hand two favorite harp players, Tony Stokes and Dave Smith to split the set, and we were joined by Lyndon Owen,a hugely entertaining sax player  who just happened to be in the room. I love this sort of happy accident...Hollowbelly said he'd never seen a musician so happy in his work..and the place was absolutely jumping.

     

    I had chilled out Sunday lunchtime gig on the MS Conway Castle with my acoustic trio, then a 40minute dash back up the motorway with Hollowbelly in convoy for an outdoor gig. Unfortunately, the rain followed us, and when we got there late afternoon it really was a washout. I took the decision to stand down and let the main act finish off the afternoon early...as it seemed to be the most sensible thing to do to make the best of a bad situation.

     

    So, roll on next year!!

  • ChickenboneJohn July 17, 2011 at 1:48pm
    Great set guys...totally together, great sound...a real baptism of fire to play at a full-on blues festival...and you carried it off really well.

    Klaatu said:

    Well, I finally did it!

     

    Despite a severe attack of the collywobbles I managed to lose my performing virginity today at the Upton open mic - my mate (and guitar teacher) Andy "Dr. Croc" and I did a short set of three songs.

     

    Much to my amazement I didn't make a total pig's ear of the proceedings - I don't think I fluffed too many chord changes and, even more remarkably, managed to remember most of the lyrics to Riot In Cell Block Number 9 as I growled my way through it (my alternative to singing, which I can't do!)

     

    Surprisingly, when the adrenaline had worn off, and I'd wiped the sweat from the fretboard and rinsed out my rubber underpants, I found that I'd actually enjoyed myself! Various people complimented Dr Croc on his playing (and he is good!) but, astonishingly enough, some of them even complimented me! And these were proper musicians - Hollowbelly and CJ, to name but two - so I felt like I'd been blessed by the Pope!

     

    So many thanks to CJ and the Homegrown Music Collective for organising the event, to the musicians who spoke to me afterwards, and to the audience who were with us all the way (though we managed to shake them off at Worcester!)

  • Spike July 16, 2011 at 4:58pm

    Well, I finally did it!

     

    Despite a severe attack of the collywobbles I managed to lose my performing virginity today at the Upton open mic - my mate (and guitar teacher) Andy "Dr. Croc" and I did a short set of three songs.

     

    Much to my amazement I didn't make a total pig's ear of the proceedings - I don't think I fluffed too many chord changes and, even more remarkably, managed to remember most of the lyrics to Riot In Cell Block Number 9 as I growled my way through it (my alternative to singing, which I can't do!)

     

    Surprisingly, when the adrenaline had worn off, and I'd wiped the sweat from the fretboard and rinsed out my rubber underpants, I found that I'd actually enjoyed myself! Various people complimented Dr Croc on his playing (and he is good!) but, astonishingly enough, some of them even complimented me! And these were proper musicians - Hollowbelly and CJ, to name but two - so I felt like I'd been blessed by the Pope!

     

    So many thanks to CJ and the Homegrown Music Collective for organising the event, to the musicians who spoke to me afterwards, and to the audience who were with us all the way (though we managed to shake them off at Worcester!)

  • Slowpaw Steve T July 15, 2011 at 12:49pm
    Have a great time guys!! (-:
  • Hayden A Butler July 15, 2011 at 12:43pm

    I'll be seeing you there - although only late on as i'm busy all day. :)

     

  • ChickenboneJohn July 15, 2011 at 7:50am
    Righto..I'm just doing my last minute bits before heading down there this afternoon...see you there!!
  • Mark July 15, 2011 at 7:47am
    Hoping to see you tomorrow.
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