FESTIVAL FORUM
Debate, discussion and argument - gear, bands and gigs - it's your call
PROGRAMME 2005
What's on in 2005?
All the bands, venues and times
TICKETS
Which stage requires tickets?
Click here for all the info including eTickets
ARTISTES
Many of the Fest bands and musicians
who have appeared over the years.
Bio's, pic's and loads of info.
POSTER 2005
2004 FESTIVAL ARTISTES
The who's who of Festival 2004; pictures, links, the lot
2004 GIG REVIEWS
Photo's and Gig Reviews of ALL the stages/venues of Festival 2004
PREVIOUS FESTIVALS
Vast archive of Photo's and Gig Reviews of Previous Festivals
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FESTIVAL SITE - MAP
The Festival Site map is interactive - click on any of the details for more info
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ACOUSTIC STAGE
The "Acoustic Stage" (in reality an eclectic mix of music from Delta Blues to
flat out rock) at The Shore Hotel has it's own website which is now updated
with new pictures and info..
ISLE OF MAN BLUES CLUB
The Manx Blues Club; where the Festival sprang from
venue, dates, history etc..
VENUES
Info & Location
NEWSLETTER: SUBSCRIBE NOW - FREE
Be in the know...first
CONTACT US
Keep
us
in the know and tell us about broken links, bands, gigs & any other news
MAP
Where is it? Here!
Interactive
Festival Site Map
Includes Photo's of Laxey Village
TRAVEL
How to get to the Isle of Man
2003 GIG REVIEWS
Check the 2003 Festival and all the Gig reviews with a stack of pictures too
SPONSORS
Without our sonsors
there would be no
Fest - Who are these
generous people?
Lady Isabella - the Great Laxey Wheel keeps on turning...
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Set high on the hillside towards the hamlet of Agneash and overlooking Laxey
Village is the Great Laxey Wheel and is as much associated with the Isle of Man
as are the cats without tails. Built in 1854 the Laxey water wheel, known as
the Lady Isabella after the wife of the Lieutenant Governor of the island at
the time, was designed by the Manx engineer Robert Casement and engineered to
pump up to 250 gallons of water per minute at a depth of almost 1,500 feet from
the workings of the the lead and zinc mines operated by the Great Laxey Mining
Company. In 1965 the Manx government bought the water wheel and the restoration
work which followed, preserved it for future generations. Since 1989 it has
been under the control of Manx National Heritage and is open to the public.
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Click logo for Info and news about manx bands and musos
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Blues in Britain Magazine
Check it out
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Click to check timetables etc
and to book on-line
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Click to check timetables etc
and to book on-line
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Click to check timetables etc
and to book on-line
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A3 Island Marquees Ltd
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Bushy's Brewery supporting
the Fest since the last century.
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Millichaps Furniture Store - Ramsey
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Domicilium: Internet Providers to the Festival
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PDMS: On-Line Service Providers to the Festival
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Absolute Scaffolding - Blues Marquee Stage
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Laxey Garage & Manx Motor Auctions
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Manntax of Laxey - tax advisers
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Triskel Promotions - Live Music Promotion & Support
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Road & Track for Motorcycles and Motorcycle Gear
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Laxey Chemist: medicines, gifts, films, perfumes and toiletries
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The Country Shop of Laxey
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Bushy's Big Wheel Blues Festival 2005 is
a fund raising event for the British Red
Cross. Please give generously.
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Quine & Cubbon Printing & Plate Making Services
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The Mines Gig Review 2005
Saturday dawned warm and sunny - a perfect day for outdoor blues !
The StoneChase trio with the addition of Tim on harmonica kicked proceedings
off as a crowd started to gather. By the Time the Jurby Mountain Daredevils
took to the stage the area around the Mines was buzzing with people enjoying
the sunshine and listening to some fine playing. The set by the Jurby Mountain
Daredevils was one of my favourites of the weekend; their music had a raw
quality to it that sent a shiver up my spine.
Back Door Slam were along next and played a fine set which went down very well.
The guys are great - they play music that is appreciated by an audience and
also technically by musos. Good work guys !
Then we had the first of many 'musicians plucked from the audience' sessions
with Roger "I can only do a couple" Leece sat behind the kit,
Kate Bass on
Vocals and Tim on harmonica backed by the StoneChase trio. Kate sang really
well and the whole band gelled into a stomping blues machine that got the crowd
going for 45 minutes until StoneChase had to head off to the Indie Tent.
While they were gone Carpe Diem got up and did their thing (sorry I can't
review these guys, I wasn't there - or the band who were on afterwards).
To round out the evening StoneChase returned with the full band and got the
place jumping with a full rockabilly sound. People danced, basses were climbed
on and audiences participated.
Sunday.
A slightly overcast start saw Ken's son Master Peter Mitchell sitting in on
drums for StoneChase but surprises were in store today. The Legendary Dr Dave
brought along a fine blues group who entertained the crowd with some mighty
playing including the welcome return of "Help me Baby". This was followed by
the Stoned Rebels featuring Roger Leece on Drums, Dave Mac on keyboards,  Tim on
harmonica, Kate and Matt on vocals, Ken and Johnny B on guitars and Johnny G on
double bass. They covered a range of tracks from slow smoky jazz numbers all
the way up to some stomping boogie woogie.
StoneChase again closed the Mines out and left as they had arrived. With a
crowd, in the sun, appreciating some fine music from excellent local blues
players.
Roll on BBBF06.
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