A cheerful member of The Mines team - 2004 - click to enlarge

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

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

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

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

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

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 interesting. To submit photographs, words, articles or comments please don't hesitate, send to bigwheelfest@manx.net