Mat Harrison ’s
all day blues extravaganza featured any number of bands from mid afternoon
through to a late night finish. Smokin’ Mat played his set early, leaving the
stage clear for others to enjoy the dubious pleasure of top billing. Dubious?
The Maling Street Wind Tunnel (outdoor stage) tests the resilience of
listeners/drinkers. The Strictly Smokin’ outfit got drenched a couple weeks ago
and the weather threatened to close in on Mat’s big do. A pint of Wylam’s
Silver Ghost, the BBQ smokin’, the ‘beer garden’ was sparsely populated, the
keen in attendance. There was a feeling of ‘end of season’ to the day. The
Regals, an experienced four piece – keyboards, guitar, bass and drums, rattled
through a blues/soul set of standard material including numbers from the
Alberts (Collins and King), Don Covay, Ray Charles and others. Led by Neil Hunter’s big soulful blues voice,
the band’s entertaining set of an hour or so flew by. The sinking sun persuaded
your reviewer to make a swift exit. Oh for those sun-drenched days…
Russell.
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