Fast becoming New Zealand's annual, national blues festival the recent Bourbon Street Blues Experience was an overwhelming success... Bluesletter Editor, Mike Garner, submits this article from the June edition of NZ's blues magazine...
The blues hit Hamilton big time on the last Sunday of May when the Hamilton Blues Society presented their third annual Bourbon Street Blues Experience. The festival was comfortably at home in the Hamilton bar that has wrought iron balustrades, a street car housing the sound gear and a real stage, complete with New Orleans street backdrop.
A capacity crowd gathered for the 10 hour event, tickets selling out two days in advance. Over a hundred people were turned away on the day and the bouncers were getting offers of more than three times the ticket price to get in! Heading the bill was NZ's best known blues performer, Midge Marsden who brought along as special guest, Wellington's Darren Watson. Sharing guitar duties with resident guitar player in Midge's band, the crowd pleasing Bullfrog Rata, this was a band that meant business!
The day began, though with a bevy of the countries best acoustic players, all with their own strengths. Kokomo Blues' Derek Jacombs kicked off with a solo set of his accomplished finger style work. Wellington's Pip Payne followed with a powerful set of up tempo blues and then made way for Northland's Red Wilson. Red wowed the audience with his original guitar, a Strat with a bass neck added, which he plays at the same time, interspersing lead runs with bass notes and singing - all at the same time! What a guy! Auckland's trio, Elephant Gerald featured guitar, washboard and bass. "Elephant" are popular at the Hamilton Club who gave them a warm welcome. They mix jug band with Chicago blues all with interesting arrangements.
Taking the blues back to authentic sounding basics, Neil Finlay brought his experience into play. Though he works as much in country as blues these days - he has to make a living, he says, his experience working with Brownie McGhee, amongst others showed.
Wellington's and maybe NZ's oldest blues band, the Windy City Strugglers were next. Armed with a bunch of their CDs, including the latest, still hot off the press, they played a thoroughly entertaining mix of material. Ranging through the Memphis Jug Band ("On The Road Again"), the Mississippi Sheiks ("Sitting On Top Of The World") through to Chicago blues, these guys were versatile. This material is easy to play badly but they played simple songs with a very authentic feel. Dropping down to a duo, the two front men, Bill Lake and Rick Bryant's version of John Lee Hooker's "How Could I Do It?" set a high standard for the following acts. The Strugglers' new CD is reviewed elsewhere in this magazine - check it out and support Kiwi blues - it's good stuff!
Time for a last minute addition to the line up. Two members of Australian band, Papa Lips, got up and did a set. Mitchell Grainger played a borrowed guitar while Declan Kelly sat behind a drum kit, and were later joined by the Strugglers' Nick Bollinger on bass. An impressive, off the cuff performance by the two guys who were on holiday, and we hope they can get over here for a paid set next time!
The act which scored most of the pre-Festival publicity could just have been a novelty. Calling themselves the New Beat Roosters, were two members of the Remarkable Beat Roosters, Sid Limbert and his Son Freddie. Sid, now known to all as The Rooster is one of NZ's most experienced and talented bass players. Freddie is a rising star in New Zealand drumming. They were joined by former members of The Blues Healers, Mike Garner and his son, Paul Garner, on rhythm and lead guitars, respectively. Mike is known for his networked radio show and as editor of this very magazine! Paul's guitar playing has already drawn him a lot of attention, and much praise some of the big names in NZ music. The line up was assembled just for this Festival and had gigged the two nights before, in Hamilton and Auckland. By the time they took the stage around 8.30pm, the audience was ready for the first all electric band. Obviously having fun, mostly just jamming, the New Beat Roosters mixed slick up-tempo R&B with moody slow blues and had the audience in a frenzy. This was no novelty act, obviously.
With two drum kits on stage, in readiness for a super-group jam, Midge's band took the show on towards midnight. Master band leader that he is, Midge has a knack of assembling a talented bunch of musicians and getting the best from them. Some of the numbers were crowd pleasers like "Burning Rain" but mostly they were songs that allow the band to cook. Bullfrog Rata really has some talent. Playing lead guitar for Midge, he does an excellent job, though his even better acoustic work didn't get much of a show at this end of the night. He sings good and plays a mean harp, too. Somebody better give this guy a recording deal one day! With Darren Watson on stage too, Midge was able to pull all sorts of material out of the bag, from his deep knowledge of the blues and showed his still has the harp licks to hold his own anywhere. Closing the night with a monstrous jam, featuring Beat Roosters Sid and Freddie, on rhythm and Paul Garner joining Bullfrog and Darren on stage, Midge had almost all the top talent in NZ blues together at Bourbon Street. They had a ball and so did the audience.
Why aren't TVNZ here recording this someone asked me. There ought to be questions in the house about it, I say! What a night. The unanimous verdict, this was the best festival yet. The Bourbon Street management said they had the best days receipts ever.
So fulsome praise to the organisers, Hamilton Blues Society, Sally, Neil, John, Andrea and Rex for all their hard work. Thanks to the sponsors, Danny's Music World in Hamilton and the Rock Network for their extensive radio promotion.
I can't wait until next year.
