Music festival taps into booze and the blues
East Harling will be home to a festival that its organiser believes could be the first real blues festival in Norfolk in living memory.
Dave Thomas, who lives in the village, helped provide blues music as part of the beer festival in the village last year.
But for 2009 he has gone a step further and helped launch the East Harling Blues 'n' Booze Festival at the sports and social club in Church Road.
It runs over the May Day Bank Holiday, May 1-4, and features four British blues bands as well as a range of real ales and ciders which make up the beer festival.
Mr Thomas said: "I've been able to call in some favours from some old friends and some new ones too. I think it is the first real blues festival in Norfolk – certainly in living memory.
"I spend most of my time backing original black American blues musicians when they visit the UK to appear at Gerard Homan's legendary Shake Down Blues promotions."
He said this year the focus was on British blues bands, including a range of styles but still rooted firmly in the blues.
On May 1, Dave Thomas himself takes to the stage with his Blues Band.
He has been compared to B.B King and his early claim to fame was once being supported by Fleetwood Mac.
May 2 is the night of Roadhouse, led by guitarist Gary Boner. The London band features three female singers and has seven albums under its belt.
Egypt, playing the next day were, in an earlier incarnation, 1960s and 1970s rock band The Groundhogs.
Band leader Alan Fish played with Tony McPhee's Groundhogs and has appeared alongside such names as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and Chuck Berry.
The final day features the Grapevine Blues Band, whose guitarist Dr Ika was twice voted top guitarist in the former USSR.
Keyboardist Dave Lennox has played with greats including Thin Lizzy and Al Green.
Other bands featuring are Bluefingers, Tony Henderson from Canada and Rusty Floyd from America.
Admission to the beer festival is free.
The East Anglian Air Ambulance charity is being supported over the weekend.
Admission is 5 on Friday, 7 on Saturday, 8 on Sunday, and 5 on Monday or visitors can save 20 per cent with a four-day pass for 20.
Book online at www.thedavethomasband.co.uk, or by telephoning 01953 718251 evenings and weekends.
Enquiries to dave@blondeonblondedirect.co.uk
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Thursday 02 September 2010
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