Day two started off ominously enough with an early morning shower, however with it soon easing off, the threat of a potential washout was averted for another day. Being only Thursday, the main stages of the festival were still not open – the festival officially runs across the weekend Friday to Sunday. But there’s more than enough going on the smaller stages to keep you from getting bored.
I ended up spending the day at one of my favourite venues at Glastonbury, the Bourbon Street stage. The festival’s own little slice of New Orleans, slap bang in the middle of Somerset. With a impressive variety of bourbon and various other drinks on offer – not to mention a stellar line up of live music – there was little reason to go elsewhere.
My first band of the day were the incredibly fun and irreverent Top Shelf Jazz. It’s part jazz performance, part vaudeville and part cabaret. The band probably hands down win the performance for best dressed with a snappy suit and fez combo. They were great, fun to witness live, very upbeat with fantastic solos from the musicians and some great vocal work from the front man, who was equal parts charming and witty. There was a very real sense that the band enjoy what they do on stage and that vibe worked its way out into the bustling and enthusiastic audience.
Following on from Top Shelf was vocalist Nicki Allen and her band. It was clear from the start that Allen has a fantastic voice, there’s a real feel of warmth and soulfulness there, complimented perfectly by the song selection, which seemed to really play to her strengths. I was impressed too with her backing band, which played solidly and expressively without taking any of the limelight away from the singer. Great use of the horn section which featured some wonderful darting horns and some beautiful saxophone.
Next, it was time for Bourbon Street to welcome Matt Andersen back to the stage, this time fully amplified. Somehow he even managed to top the fantastic performance he put on just the evening before. Much of the set remained the same, though the energy levels were up with the crowd really getting into it. Indeed Andersen offered up an early contender for sing-along of the festival with the packed Bourbon Street stage all hollering along to his encore performance of The Impressions classic People Get Ready, a sublime performance topping off a set which surely won Andersen a whole heap of new fans.
Up next was London lad Marcus Bonfanti who impressed from his opening notes. Armed with only an acoustic guitar and a harmonica, Bonfanti eased his way through the set, winning over more and more of the audience as each song came to an end. A charismatic performer with a great sense of humour, initially I would have placed him as being more Americana than blues, but I think that’s largely to do with the acoustic elements. The vocals were definitely bluesy at times, with just the right amount of gravel and emotion lingering. Played a set of largely his own material which sounded great as well as a great cover of the traditional song Run On (also known as God’s Gonna Cut You Down). A great set and with the promise of a full band show later in the weekend, I’ll certainly come back for more.
Up after Bonfanti was American (via Norway) blues-man Ledfoot a man who certainly looks like he has just walked out of some saloon in New Orleans, dressed all in black, with a variety of tattoos. He cuts quite the figure. Great raucous song of a 12-string guitar and some good old foot stomping. He played a wonderfully uptempo set and certainly seemed to have the audience on his side throughout, not only with his great guitar playing and songs, but also with his little anecdotes between songs and dry sense of humour. An interesting character and a great set all the same.
Following on from Ledfoot, was singer-songwriter Sean Taylor who seemed to be more folky than blues or jazz to me. Indeed, in t-shirt jeans and a trilby he certainly did fit those particular moulds. Overall, it was a fantastic set, and one of my favourites from the early stages of the festival. A charismatic performer, it’s clear why he is being championed as one to watch by many. His own material rubbing shoulders with some fantastic covers, notably an impassioned rendition of Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower” and great rendition of Tom Wait’s “Down in the Hole”.
The headliner for the evening was Sandi Thom, who some of you may remember as the creator of the hit song “I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker”. So naturally I was a bit surprised at her inclusion in the list of performers on a predominantly blues and jazz stage. But it seems since then she has undergone a bit of a transformation.
It was a great set, which saw the venue fill to overflowing. She has a stunning voice, much better than I remember it being, there is a great rich soulful quality, with a bit of an underlying twang. Her band were fantastic as well, providing great back up, and in some cases providing a sounding board for Thom to play to, or against. It seemed like the majority of the set was made up of her own material, but there were a few covers chucked in, which prompted a few sing-along moments. The song everyone came to hear, has been transformed from slight humble folky beginnings into this fantastic countryfied bluesy romp which sounds fantastic live.
The headliner may have played, but the music doesn’t stop here. Up next is young up and coming blues guitarist Ben Poole and his band, who played a solid and impressive set. Sublime guitar work featured throughout with Poole getting some wonderful crisp and toneful notes from his guitar. At times the crispness and quality of his playing reminded me of listening to Jeff Beck playing a few years back. As you can imagine it was a fairly high octane set, plenty of energy and the crowd seemed to love it, though they mostly played their own material they did slip some great cover songs into the mix, a nice bluesy Stevie Wonder song as well their version of the Jimi Hendrix song Hey Joe.
Vocally Poole was solid, with some nice gravelled bluesy vocals to complement his playing. The encore saw Poole abandoning the stage midway through a song, and mid drum solo, to climb atop the sound desk to finish out the set – all whilst continuing to play and sing (though now with the aid of a megaphone) before wading back through the crowd.
Finishing off the night for me was blues singer Connie Lush, dressed all in black, bar a vivid red feathered top hat, Lush cuts an interesting figure on stage, and one who is hard to miss. A fantastic performer, she struts around the stage, puntucating her songs with growls and shouts, letting loose with her fantastic voice. It’s rich, soulful, but also gravelled and full of character. Some great original material, as well as a wonderful rendition of some Nina Simone.
Well that was it for Day Two, so much great music, and the best warm up you could want for the start of the main festival.
Photo by Andrew/Joey Allcock – Full Gallery HERE.
———-
