FESTIVAL FORUM
Debate, discussion and argument - gear, bands and gigs - it's your call
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
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POSTER 2004
The 2004 Poster is available free to download right now
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PROGRAMME 2004
What was on in 2004
All the bands, venues and times
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..
TICKETS
Festival 2004 is mostly FREE
but which stages require tickets?
Click here for all the info
ARTISTS
Bio's, pic's and loads of info.
VENUES
Info & Location
NEWSLETTER: SUBSCRIBE NOW - FREE
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CONTACT US
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us
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MAP
Where is it? Here!
Includes Photo's of Laxey
TRAVEL
How to get to the Isle of Man
Stage: MAIN STAGE GIG REPORT 2003
Photo's and Report on the
Charterhouse International Blues Pavilion
Main Stage
Stage: ACOUSTIC STAGE
The Acoustic Stage has it's own web
site. You can check out: Previous
fest.s, pictures and details.
NEWSLETTER: SUBSCRIBE NOW - FREE
Be in the know...first
CONTACT US
Keep
us
in the know
MAP
Where is it? Here!
Includes Photo's of Laxey
TRAVEL
How to get to the Isle of Man
SPONSORS
Without our sonsors
there would be no
Fest - Who are these
generous people?
Domicilium: Internet Providers to the Festival
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Bushy's Big Wheel Blues Festival 2003 is
a fund raising event for the British Red
Cross. Please give generously.
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The Kelly Elliott Band on The Acoustic Stage 2003
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The Kelly Elliott Band - Shore hotel 2003 Click to Enlarge
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John Boy Parker plays upright bass with the Kelly Elliott Band at the Shore
Hotel 2003
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…Kelly's spine tingling voice is often compared to the likes of Janice Joplin,
Michelle Shocked and Eva Cassidy..
…"I looked round the venue as Kelly was in mid solo, and there wasn't a single
head not turned in the direction of the stage".
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The vibe magazine
…"When I got back to the bar a young three piece was set up..with a pretty
young thing called Kelly Elliott..what a fantastic voice"
Blues Matters Magazine
The Kelly Elliott Band
formed at the beginning of 2002 was, perhaps unsurprisingly, the brain child of
band leader Kelly Elliott, whose idea was to get together a bunch of talented
musicians in the Warwick area to play music that she liked; jazz, swing, blues
and soul. Her main
influences cover a wide range of people from the likes of Michelle Shocked and
Tom Waits to Louis Jordan, Eva Cassidy, Colin James, Mike Sanchez and Janis
Joplin. It was her intention to bring her eclectic mix of influences alive, in
her own unique style, for others to enjoy.
Simple, but who to play this complex and demanding music?
First on board was the crazy, phazy fingers of
John Boy Parker
on double bass, a man who finds it hard to keep still whether playing
Stephanie, his bass, or not. John is an incredibly talented musician who has
worked with many greats in the past and was an obvious choice.
Then, whilst auditioning for brass (which turned out to be a long process) the
band were blessed with the appearance of
Liz Ralls, originally from London,
who within two hours of meeting the new band was up jamming at the Warwick Folk
Club - she played a blinder too. Liz is a trumpet player with much soul and
talent, classically trained she made it to the finals of the highly prestigious
Radio Three Young Musician of
the Year Awards a few years back.
Kelvin Leitch
plays drums who, with his contrapuntal rhythms, plays with versatility,
enthusiasm and a cheeky grin on his face, without doubt the best drummer in
their area.
Mark Steads
on keyboards and piano plays with the passion, flare and the excitement of
someone finding himself, for the first time. Mark is a phenomenal
well-respected player, versatile and unique. He plays with the best musicians
in the area and that's why he is the best around.
The latest addition to the Kelly Elliott Band, is
Paul Swanson
on electric guitar.
'Swanner'
brings with him an individual flare not found in many guitar players, and this
together with his individual influences creates a fantastic musician. He has a
unique laid back style and, apparently, "he looks cool too". The band say that
they're lucky to have such a rare talent. Oh yes it's Swanners birthday on the
Friday of the festival so make sure you all buy him a pint!!
Finally, the main reason this band pulls in the crowd and causes a stir
everywhere is, of course,
Kelly Elliott
herself, a singer with everything; passion, looks and a voice that stays with
you 'til the next gig. Kelly was until recently part of the ever popular
Little Chuck Little trio who played everywhere even as far as South Korea and
no one who saw them will forget Kelly thrashing the life out of her double bass
(until the fingers bled on one occasion I recall) and... that voice.
The band, although newly formed is going from strength to strength with gigs
cropping up all over the place with plans in hand to put together their first
CD.
The band was a must-see the Festival weekend of 2003. They were excited and up
for playing in the
Isle of Man, and were wonderfully entertaining for everyone. Unique, fresh, with
incredible talent and passion, once seen you will be hooked. So, turn off the
TV set, get on your dancing shoes and catch Warwickshire's own musical
experience - if you get the chance. The Kelly Elliott Band.
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