Various venues, Stromness, Orkney, 23-25 September 2011

ORKNEY Blues Weekend is a community event run by a cohort of volunteers who enlist other bystander volunteers to pass round collecting buckets at the free gigs around Stromness watering holes.

The public even get to pick which bands will come up from south during a selection evening listening to CDs earlier in the year. The public and committee certainly picked a winner this year.

Local Band Slow Ride (photo Tom O'Brien)

Rock blues guitarist and singer Chantel McGregor from Yorkshire was one of the chosen four visiting acts. A couple of weeks ago Chantel won the Young Artist of the Year title at the British Blues awards.

Orkney was so lucky to have this class act headlining. She captured attention at the Ferry Inn at her opening gig on Friday night. Clad in a pretty floral dress, her bare feet tapping, she delivered high octane blistering guitar phrasings, mesmerising languid solos and took us with her for intense, smouldering build-ups.

This virtuoso musician made something new from familiar songs such as Voodoo Chile and her own Cat’s Song and Like No Other. Her rhythm section is with her all the way, with Martin Rushworth on drums and stunning bass riffs from Richard Ritchie.

Chantal McGregor (photo Tom O'Brien)

That first night her vocals, tinged with bluesy fragility were captivating too – sadly she lost her voice to a throat infection the next two evenings and bravely attempted to soldier on, repeatedly apologising to her audience. Word had spread that Chantel was one to watch and it was impossible to cram any more folk into the Royal for her Saturday gig.

Blues at this festival came in all its forms, from full-on electric power house Paddy Maguire, the rich soulful mood of Rhythm Zoo and Lucy Zirins’ Mississippi Delta style solo performance, to the chilled out cool numbers from a late minute addition to the visiting line-up, The Binsness Bluesboys from Elgin.

Their two gigs at the Stromness Hotel were the chance to relax or dance to some traditional smooth blues in the style of Otis Rush, Muddy Waters and The Doobie Brothers. These boys can get a crowd on the dance floor too, and did an impromptu unplugged set outside in the street after Sunday’s final concert. The finale is the only gig for which admisison is charged, and was a value for money five hours for £12.

During the three days Orkney-based bands punched above their weight, with The Fastliners up there with the rest of them. This band are tighter with each performance, bringing blues from the 1940s-to-90s from Texas and Chicago in a mix of swing, jump, funk and rockabilly – highly entertaining stuff from first class performers.

Sheena Cameron’s gorgeous vocals slowed down the mood with Katzwhiskies guitarists Dave Ellis and Mike Henderson for a set of blues ranging from 1920s Bessie Smith to contemporary sounds from the likes of Steve Earle.

Stunning Orkney guitarist Andrew Taylor played with bands The Fastliners and Bad Taste, and was invited up for a shot on lead with Paddy Maguire. Acoustic Americana and folk was offered in a beautiful and quiet set from Sticky Lizard and Dave Morrison sang his own moving ballads.

Blues-rock outfit Blue Mother reformed for one weekend only to great applause. Evidence that the blues will never die came with accomplished youngsters Slow Ride with energetic and stylish frontman antics and newly formed Snarx.

There are so many gigs I couldn’t get round them all. But what I saw was a great range of tempo and mood. The festival also went on tour for events on Hoy and in Stenness.

© Catherine Turnbull, 2011

Links

• Orkney Blues Festival