2013 March
ARTISTS, REVIEW, COMMENTS, SCHEDULE and VENUES
ARTISTS APPEARING WERE:
Andy Grant Trio, Assorted Buskers, Back Porch, Blind Lemon Gliders, Blue Touch, Blues Machine, C Sharp Blues, Dan Sowerby Band, David Raphael Band, Fabulous Fezheads, F-Rock, Hugh Budden, Jam Sessions with Robin Bibi Band, Jason Manners & 3 Buck Shirt, Jawbreakers, Jay Tamkin, Johnny Sharp, Jon Walsh, Lewis Cohen, Milton-Farrow Skiffle 'n' Blues Band, Motel 6, Mustangs, Open Mic Sessions with Johnny Sharp and Martin Froud, Paint It Blue, Ray Drury, Riotous Brothers, Riverside Blues Band, Robert Hokum & The Devil Drives, Robin Bibi Band, Saiichi Sugiyama Band, Stan's Blues Jamboree, Steamer, Steve Darrington, The I.D.s, The Smokin' Benny Brown Band, Tim Harrison, Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt, Will Killeen, and Zoe Schwarz & Blue Commotion
REVIEW
SWANAGE BLUES FESTIVAL DECLARED BEST EVER by Arron Hendy
Courtesy of Daily Echo, Monday 4th March 2013
THE latest Swanage Blues Festival was declared “the best ever” with the town “buzzing” for three days.
The resort’s pubs thronged to the sound of music with visitors also filling the town’s bed and breakfasts and eateries to provide a boost outside of the summer season.
Organiser Steve Darrington was struck down with a bug and missed much of the revelry but said he was buoyed by messages throughout confirming the three day event was a success.
“Everything has gone very well with lots of very happy people,” he said.
“And the artist Robin Bibi said it’s the best ever, which is great considering it is the 19th one.
“One lady sent me a message saying “it’s magical and it’s wonderful to be here”.
The blues festival started as a birthday party for local taxi driver George Crane, who turns 65 this year.
A single £10 weekend wristband ensured entry at 60 gigs in 15 indoor venues.
The venues included pubs and there were popular busking performances at the railway station.
The Corfe Castle Royal British Legion also joined the list of places hosting the acts.
The festival is held twice each year with both dates set outside the tourist season to help traders.
Steve added: “The most important thing is it has brought a lot of business into the town.
“The town has been buzzing all weekend. The bed-and-breakfasts and restaurants were full and that’s lovely.”
SCHEDULE
All times are approximate and subject to change
FRIDAY 1 MARCH
2.00pm Red Lion Open Mic with Martin Froud & Johnny Sharp
5.00pm Bar One Robin Bibi Band
6.00pm Sea Breeze Lewis Cohen
6.00pm Tawny’s Hugh Budden & Jon Walsh
8.15pm Sea Breeze Lewis Cohen
8.15pm Tawny’s Hugh Budden & Jon Walsh
8.30pm East Bar Robert Hokum & The Devil Drives
8.30pm Bar One Blind Lemon Gliders
8.30pm Grand Hotel Zoe Schwarz & Blue Commotion
8.45pm Black Swan Will Killeen
9.00pm White Swan Riotous Brothers
9.00pm Red Lion Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
9.00pm The Legion The Jawbreakers
9.00pm Crow’s Nest Back Porch
9.45pm White Horse The Mustangs
9.45pm Anchor Inn Riverside Blues Band
10.00pm Ship, Swanage Motel 6
SATURDAY 2 MARCH
11.00am Railway Station Assorted Buskers
12.30pm Bar One Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
1.00pm The Legion STAN’S BLUES JAMBOREE till 7pm
2.00pm East Bar Fabulous Fezheads
2.00pm White Horse Jam Session with Robin Bibi Band
2.00pm Red Lion Open Mic with Martin Froud & Johnny Sharp
2.30pm Corfe Legion David Raphael Band
2.45pm Bar One Jason Manners & 3 Buck Shirt
3.00pm White Swan Back Porch
3.00pm Grand Hotel The Jawbreakers
3.30pm Ship, Swanage Riotous Brothers
5.00pm Bar One Hugh Budden & Jon Walsh
6.00pm Tawny’s Lewis Cohen
6.00pm Sea Breeze Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
7.15pm Bar One Dan Sowerby Band
8.15pm Tawny’s Lewis Cohen
8.15pm Sea Breeze Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
8.30pm Grand Hotel Saiichi Sugiyama Band
8.30pm East Bar Jay Tamkin Band
8.45pm Black Swan Will Killeen
9.00pm White Swan The Jawbreakers
9.00pm Red Lion Fabulous Fezheads
9.00pm Crow’s Nest Blue Touch
9.00pm The Legion Robert Hokum’s Journey Through The Blues with The Devil Drives,
9.45pm Anchor C Sharp Blues
9.45pm White Horse Robin Bibi Band
10.00pm Ship, Swanage The Blues Machine
SUNDAY 3 MARCH
11.00am Railway Station Assorted Buskers
12.30pm Bar One Back Porch
12.30pm Sea Breeze Lewis Cohen
12.30pm Tawnys Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
1.00pm Red Lion Open Mic with Martin Froud & Johnny Sharp
1.30pm Black Swan Will Killeen
2.00pm East Bar The Smokin’ Benny Brown Band
2.00pm Corfe Legion The I.D.s supporting the Riverside Blues Band
2.30pm Bar One Hugh Budden & Jon Walsh
3.00pm White Horse Jam Session with Robin Bibi Band
3.00pm White Swan Blue Touch
3.00pm Anchor David Raphael Band
3.00pm Grand Hotel Milton-Farrow Skiffle ‘n’ Blues Band
4.00pm Ship, Swanage The Jawbreakers
4.00pm The Legion Andy Grant Trio
4.30pm Bar One Jason Manners & 3 Buck Shirt
6.30pm East Bar Paint It Blue
8.00pm The Legion Milton-Farrow Skiffle ‘n’ Blues Band
8.30pm Grand Hotel GRAND FESTIVAL FINALE Steve Darrington with the Robert Hokum Blues Band
10.00pm Anchor F-Rock
VENUES
Starting from the pier end of the High Street, the first venue is the East Bar (1 High St) and Bar One next door (also 1 High St), then the White Horse (11), Ship Inn (23a), White Swan (31), Anchor Inn (30), Tawny’s Wine Bar (52), Red Lion (63), Black Swan (159) and a little further on The Legion (150). That concludes the High Street. The lower high street is connected to Station Road by Institute Road opposite the White Swan.
Funworld Café is in the centre of Swanage where Station Road, Shore Road and Institute Road all meet by the Mowlem Theatre.
From Funworld Café go along Shore Road with the bay on your right and Sea Breeze (7 Shore Rd) is on your left; keep on all the way along the bay and at Ocean Bay restaurant (not a venue) bear left up the hill to the Crow’s Nest (11 Ulwell Rd). From the Crow’s Nest, cross over into Burlington Rd for the Grand Hotel.
Corfe Castle Royal British Legion is in Corfe Castle and can be reached by road, bus or train. The last train comes back to Swanage at 5.22pm on Saturday and Sunday (correct at time of writing but always best to check).
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