Newton Stewart sure got the blues

15 Sep 23
by Nathon Jones

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The 2nd annual Blues Weekender blues festival gets underway this Friday 15th September from 7pm with local assets, Easy Does It, and the fabulous Three Card Trick from Glasgow followed, on Saturday 16th, by Al Hughes and The Brian Rawson Band; four fantastic blues bands LIVE at The Vault!

Al Hughes performs on Saturday 16th September

Last year's Blues Weekender event was so popular that we simply had to make it an annual event and, like the other festivals the venue hosts, it features some of the very best in performing artists currently on the UK blues scene.  Tickets cost £10.00 per person, per night, or you can save £4.00 with a Weekend Pass and catch four fantastic acts for just £16.00 per person!

Three Card Trick
Having 20 years experience in the music industry, Three Card Trick have recently completed successful tours of France, Spain and USA promoting their original albums. Gary appeared on Chicago's JBTV in Oct 2019 plus UK supports with the Darkness and Wheatus and USA shows with Manny Torres and Mike Wheeler Band.

Easy Does It
Easy Bob Reid plays classic blues tunes on the harmonica. Easy is still going strong at 80 and is always jazzing up any space his music reaches.

Brian Rawson Band
Brian Rawson played guitar with Jimmy Bain (Rainbow/ Wild Horses/Dio) on demo’s for the band, Rogue Male on which Jimmy produced and played bass before relocating to the U.S. where he played guitar on singer/songwriter Jon Lacabanne's album "Amen", The Groove Monsters debut album and Gary Stipe & Whiskey Hill’s E.P. He recorded all the guitars on Irish singer/songwriter, Deidre Cunningham's album "Sunny Days" and returned to the U.S. to play a one-off gig in Nashville with "Handsome" Mick Rowe's band, "Nineteen88" before returning to the UK where he joined Brian Connolly in "Sweet" for a UK tour.

The current line-up consists of Brian Rawson – Guitar/vocals, bass player, Doug Heede, of the Scottish band, Sinister Flynn (who have released three albums to date) vocalist, Darran Anderson (formerly of the bands, Davy Jones Quest and Black Friday) and drummer, Pete Dunlop who has toured the UK and Europe with a number of bands.

Al Hughes
Al writes from his own perspective on topic which are very much of today. His influences can be clearly heard, but his songs are, modern, relevant and gathering praise from growing number of well respected figures on the British music scene.

Comparisons have been made- by more than one reviewer- to both Chris Smither and Townes Van Zandt. His haunting, smoky voice, described by one reviewer as sounding "aged in oak casks" is supported by a variety of guitars, including a huge sounding custom built 12 string resonator, and his slide playing has been described as "eerily atmospheric". Al's vocal abilities have led to a bust schedule as a session musician, and he now combines studio work with playing clubs concerts and festivals all over the UK. 

Further Information

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• Save £4 with a Weekend Pass