BLUES FESTIVAL HITS THE RIGHT NOTES

“Absolutely fantastic festival” enthused Leeds Blues Festival promoter Nigel Morris, who continued “Everyone has had a great time, the bands, the venues and the audiences. Next year we’ll be back even bigger and better” Leeds music supporter Paul Schofield added “This festival has been wanted in Leeds for years, Colne and Burnley have great Blues festivals, hopefully Leeds can now be added to them”

The legendary Michael Messer closed the eight hour blues marathon at the Mixing Tin, which included the most energetic performance seen at the festival via “The Revelator Band”, the Bluesy- Jazzy sound from local singer-songwriter Sam Payne, plus storming sets from James O’Hara, Speakeasy Blues Band with lead singer Jon White in superb form, The Lightnin’ Rods, the Welsh T Band and Crosscut Saw. With fringe events at the Duck and Drake, the Grove Inn and the Sela Bar, this has been a “Blues” festival weekend to remember, and proved Leeds can attract the top quality performers, such as Lyndon Anderson, Dr Brown, Neil Dalton and Michael Messer.

On behalf of everyone who played or attended the festival, can I put on record a very big “THANK YOU” to Nigel Morris and Alex Eden of Crossscut Saw, for making this event happen, you did us proud. As plans are already being formulated for next year’s event, it should be, Leeds Blues heaven in 2007.