Americana’s Ten Gallon Stetsons met with a noisy reception

(By Russell)

If it’s summertime it must be SummerTyne. Sage Gateshead’s biggest festival of the year opened for business at noon on Friday (July 21st) on the Jumpin’ Hot Club’s Performance Square outdoor stage. Street food stands (including Wylam Brewery) did a roaring trade all day long, the rain held off (more or less), and inside, Sage Gateshead’s concourse couldn’t have been more crowded. A private reception for some in the bar located outside Sage Two, the masses sought vantage points to enjoy the Stax Academy Revue’s opening set at six thirty. William Bell’s band (minus the man!) played at ear-splitting volume and there was no escape from it other than to step outside.

Soul man William Bell appears tonight (Saturday) in Sage One. The Stax Academy Revue’s Friday show was a show in itself and something of a taster for Bell’s forthcoming headline appearance. A set list running from Green Onions to Soul Man had the concourse crowd dancing on the spot. Any thoughts of conversation were just that, thoughts. This was LOUD!!! Film and visual art play a part; on Saturday in the SummerTyne Lounge at 1:35pm there is a screening of Mahalia Jackson Sings, Sunday at 1:15pm you can watch the short (10 mins) Deep Ellum Blues focusing on the suburb of 1920s Dallas, Texas and the music of Bill Neely. An exhibition of paintings by Jon Langford John Langford Nashville Radio can be viewed on the white walls outside Sage One and Sage Two. The paintings – portraits of numerous Americana legends – include, somewhat incongruously, a study of John Coltrane.

Be sure to read Ann Alex’s BSH review [coming soon] of Friday’s Sage Two double bill featuring Merle Haggard’s Strangers and Ashley Campbell.     

Russell