FESTIVAL FORUM
Debate, discussion and argument - gear, bands and gigs - it's your call
2004 GIG REVIEWS
Photo's and Reviews of all the 2004 Stages
PROGRAMME 2004
What's on in 2004
All the bands as they are booked...
GIG REVIEWS FROM 2003
Check the 2003 Festival and all the gig reviews with a stack of pictures too
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
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Includes Photo's of Laxey
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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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StoneChase host the Mines Tavern Saturday and Sunday Afternoon sessions at The
Mines - click to enlarge
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Some of the Mines Audience basking in the beautiful weekend-long weather
specially ordered for The
Mines - 2004 - click to enlarge
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John steps in for Ken Mitchell with StoneChase at The
Mines - 2004 - click to enlarge
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The Jurby Mountain Daredevils at The
Mines - 2004 - click to enlarge
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StoneChase at The
Mines - 2004 - click to enlarge
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Matt James "star of stage and screen" at The
Mines - 2004 - click to enlarge
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Ken Mitchell multi instrumentalist and purveyor of musical instruments and
equipment to many a popular beat combo - plays guitar with StoneChase at The
Mines - 2004 - click to enlarge
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Tim Davies, master harpist, plays at The
Mines - 2004 - click to enlarge
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A cheerful member of The Mines team - 2004 - click to enlarge
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Festival Saturday and Sunday at the Mines Tavern are the most informal sessions
of the weekend, and Johnny Galbraith organised the sessions by telling everyone
who turned up to play that the plan of action involved making sure that there
was no plan of action. There was no need for bad weather contingencies for
outdoor events this year, as the sun scorched down throughout the weekend,
attracting
tramloads of visitors and festival-goers to bask in a glorious atmosphere.
StoneChase
were the anchor band at the Mines, playing solid Rockabilly and rock and roll.
Johnny G in action at The
Mines - 2004 - click to enlarge
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Johnny Galbraith (picture right) plays double bass with star of stage and
screen Matt James on
vocals, and guitar duties were shared by John Barlow and long term provider of
musical machinery and multi-instrumentalist Ken Mitchell. Ken couldn't play
all weekend but when absent his place was filled by Steve "five bands" Courtie
running between numerous sessions at the Queen's with
Walter Ego
amongst others. John Kinley (ex Steelyard Blues Band from many years ago)
helped too adding some tight percussion.
The
Jurby Mountain Daredevils
(picture left)
played in the sunshine to a huge crowd spilling across the rail tracks on to
the grass banks opposite. Patrick Jerry playing acoustic bass guitar (Patrick on
bass? Yep, the man knows no limits) along with the usual line-up of Sid, Keith
and Will.
Jackie Oliver with a "voice like sweet black coffee" at The
Mines - 2004 - click to enlarge
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The ubiquitous Johnny G also provided the sole backing for
Jackie Oliver
, a lady with a voice
like sweet black coffee, who puts as much feeling into a
song as anyone I've heard, and clearly thinks about the meaning of the lyrics.
It's pretty brave to sing accompanied just by a double bass, but Jackie carried
the task off with aplomb, and mightily impressed many of the crowd.
A seamless mix of Rebels without Applause and Sinister Dexter attacked the
"A seamless mix of Rebels without Applause and Sinister Dexter" at The
Mines - 2004 - click to enlarge
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audience with a set of blues standards, boogie and jug band music, featuring
Pete Woodman (mandolin, accordion and slide), Tim Davies (harmonica), Kate Bass
and
Dave Wade (vocals) with Johnny Galbraith, still going strong on double bass.
This
collective of blues club regulars stir up a concoction of songs from Memphis
Minnie, Peggy Lee, Robert Cray, Tom Waits and Eric Bibb. Steve Courtie added
lead guitar between sessions elsewhere around the Festival.
Another former blues club regular
Darryl Williams
brought
Felix Slim
"I think Felix went that way - to the bar" Big Darryl - 2004
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all the way from Spain to the festival to treat us to ragtime and Delta blues.
Felix's ability to sing the blues of Robert Johnson is uncanny, and his
harmonica and guitar work is pretty slick, too. Darryl's finger picking guitar
is hard to match, and it's easy to appreciate why this duo is in demand to play
at all the big festivals in Spain.
The Sunday session culminated with some glorious jam sessions that kept the
large crowd, still bathed in warm spring sunshine, very well pleased until late
in the
afternoon.
An interesting photo angle of the Mines pergola - 2004 sent in by Roger
Marriot. Click to ENLARGE
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Many thanks for the many photo contributions and helpful suggestions to all of
the following:
Tim Davies, Kate Bass, Dave Payne and Roger Marriot.
Feedback is essentuial if we are to keep this web site informative and
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