Despite the massive competition
– World Cup Final and Wimbledon Men’s Final – another bumper crowd turned
out at Oswestry Music Live 2006.
With storm clouds looming from midday, it was touch and go whether last
year’s attendance would be repeated – it was. Once again it proved to be
a great day out for all ages. Thankfully for the organisers, only
intermittent light showers fell, posing no problems for the crowd’s enjoyment
of the top class entertainment.
The main stage hosted both established and up-and-coming performers,
beginning with stalwarts The Gatecrashers and their pulsating set, featuring
a stunning cover The Who’s Substitute, setting the tone for the rest
of the day.
Lanfyllin quartet Vendetta comprise of three 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old
drummer Joey Chetwood. Playing a mix of originals – Move, Roots Radicals,
Waiting Around from their self-titled album, and covers, they improved
as the set wore on, with superb interpretations of Led Zeppelin’s Whole
Lotta Love and Hendrix’s Voodoo Chile.
Star musician was guitarist Jamie Terrill who played out of his skin, and
well beyond his tender years.
Knocking on the big time is Yorkshire lass, 27 year-old blonde Helen Boulding,
who’s debut single What A Fool, released July 31, featured on Capital
Radio, has recently done sessions for Bob Harris and Janice Long on BBC Radio.
Keyboard-player Helen is in the classic British singer-songwriter mould,
who’s in the business for the long run. Her six song set and dulcet tones
were mesmerising. Next single Copenhagen is out in September.
Attracting massive attention in Germany and UK is Manchester’s Strangefish,
who’ve shifted 500 copies of their Oswestry-recorded album Fortune Telling
in Germany already. Together for six years, the quintet is now being compared
with Genesis and other Prog-Rockers, with anthemic tracks Wallflower
and Have You Seen The Light getting a huge reaction from the crowd.
Stand-in bassist Rick Bridge did a superb job. Charismatic frontman Steve
Taylor held court in majestic fashion, leading his troops through a
spellbinding four song set.
Catch the band at Summer’s End Festival at Robin 2 Wolverhampton on September
29.
Most improved act of the event was local heroes Blindsyde, (Chicago Rock
Café UK finalists), who have progressed beyond belief in the past year.
Their music has matured immensely. There’s more sonic experimentation,
complete with new guitarist Paul Smith and the use of the ‘forgotten ‘Wah
Wah’, which beefed up a set worthy of a ‘stadium act’ of the future. Opening
with rip-roaring licks on Wake Up, they stormed through a tight and
professional six-song set, closing with funky baselines and more Wah Wah
lashings on I Belong.
Other local act Seven Days To Sunday proved they can give and excellent set
too, mixing covers (The Killers/Yellowcard) and originals, with Rob Quinn
stealing the show on keys - lead ballad After Everything.
Red-hot American rockers Blanco Diablo from Charlotte, North Carolina,
influenced by classic rockers Jimmy Page (Led Zep), Ritchie Blackmore,
Gary More, and Marc Bolan gave a blistering set of six tracks (raucous licks
and riffs aplenty by fire-fingers Jamie Ray) highlighted on What Do Me
from their new album Paper Poison Revolution and T-Rex’s
20th Century Boy. The trio, who are getting acclaimed reviews, have
all the makings of a top band.
Back for a second year, American Lisa Mills, accompanied again by BTPB
bassist Ian Jennings, left the crowd stunned with her achingly beautiful
blues vocals. Her deft finger work, playing a recently purchased 1947
Epiphone Arctop guitar was the icing on the cake for a lady who is a match
for compatriot Bonnie Raitt any day.
On the up is local 18 year-old Libby Gliksman, who is now on course for a
French degree at John Moores University Liverpool. Giving a very mature
performance, Libby belted out standards: Cry Me A River, Fever,
through to Sandi Thom’s chart topper I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker. Vocal
highlight was a sublime Dream A Little Dream, where she showed her
range and class.
Penultimate main stage act and festival favourites, A Little Bit Of Chaos
from Wrexham, gave a predictably polished performance. Lead by charismatic
frontman Paul Sturman, the quartet stormed through covers – America’s
Horse With No Name, Crowded House’s Weather With You, The Who's
Squeeze Box and originals Little Bit Of Time and Somebody Else’s
Somebody, as always, featuring some stunning lead guitar by Amos Cooper.
Catch them at Fat Cat Café Bar, Wrexham Bus Station, King Street, Wrexham on
Thursday 20 July, 8.30pm. Free entry. 01978-266791.
Headliners, Big Town Play Boys lead by cool main-man Chad Strentz rounded
off a thrilling selection of festival styles with an hour’s romp through
standards by Ray Charles – Mess Around, Freddie King – Tears On
Your Letter, Tore Down, Tom Waits – Down In The Hole and closing
with guest singer Lisa Mils on Charles’ classic, Hit The Road Jack.
On the acoustic stage acts included Catrin Jones from St.Asaph, who gave a
masterclass in singing technique, strolling through covers, including Gnarls
Barkley’s hit Crazy, and Green Day’s Wake Me Up When September Ends.
Contact Catrin at cosmicat55@ hotmail.com / 07971162920 / 01745-730047
Mark Hayward, based in Grove Oxfordshire, filled in superbly with some
achingly beautiful songs by Radiohead, Tom Petty and a daring version Pink
Floyd’s Wish You Were Here.
Multi-talented Simon Ark chose to cover the greats in his inimitable style –
Leadbelly’s Midnight Special, Robert Johnson’s Crossroads and
John Lee Hooker’s Crawling Kingsnake.
The event closed once again with Porthywaen Silver Band followed by a
spectacular fireworks display.
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B
37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Jan 2011: Intel Quad Core Dell XPS 8100, i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80Ghz, 8Gb RAM, nVidia GeForce GTS 240, Windows 7
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
Despite the massive competition
– World Cup Final and Wimbledon Men’s Final – another bumper crowd turned
out at Oswestry Music Live 2006.
Knocking on the big time is Yorkshire lass, 27 year-old blonde Helen Boulding,
who’s debut single What A Fool, released July 31, featured on Capital
Radio, has recently done sessions for Bob Harris and Janice Long on BBC Radio.
Keyboard-player Helen is in the classic British singer-songwriter mould,
who’s in the business for the long run. Her six song set and dulcet tones
were mesmerising. Next single Copenhagen is out in September.
Back for a second year, American Lisa Mills, accompanied again by BTPB
bassist Ian Jennings, left the crowd stunned with her achingly beautiful
blues vocals. Her deft finger work, playing a recently purchased 1947
Epiphone Arctop guitar was the icing on the cake for a lady who is a match
for compatriot Bonnie Raitt any day.
Headliners, Big Town Play Boys lead by cool main-man Chad Strentz rounded
off a thrilling selection of festival styles with an hour’s romp through
standards by Ray Charles – Mess Around, Freddie King – Tears On
Your Letter, Tore Down, Tom Waits – Down In The Hole and closing
with guest singer Lisa Mils on Charles’ classic, Hit The Road Jack.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.