The Colne Valley sure will be feeling the blues this weekend.
The first ever blues weekender will be held at the Railway Inn pub next to the railway station in Marsden on Saturday and Sunday (September 16 and 17) featuring big names from the genre.
The pub hosts blues every Sunday known as the Sunday Blues Train but this week it’s the Blues Train Weekender and the headline act at 8pm on Sunday will be British Blues Awards Winner 2023 (Best Acoustic Act) Trevor Babajack Steger.
This British blues musician has released three solo albums, one live album and been nominated for numerous British Blues Awards.
His music is influenced by his acquired passion for early rural Blues mixed with the sounds of rhythmic African roots that makes him a thrilling and unique artist.
The other acts on Sunday are Hayley Gaftarnick, an independent singer/songwriter from Leeds who will be performing at 6pm. Her husky and powerful voice tells honest and frank stories of a road well-travelled.
While being inspired by some of the great names of soul and blues such as Otis Reading, Donny Hathaway, Etta James and Aretha Franklin, Hayley manages to create a sound that is both familiar and yet truly unique.
The third Sunday act is Flock of 3, a funky rocky bluesy power trio from Huddersfield due on stage at 3pm. They play a variation of styles of music including songs from artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robben Ford, John Mayer, Robin Trower, Cream, Hendrix, Bill Withers, Ray Charles, Chris Duarte, Allman Bros and BB.
Saturday’s line-up also has three acts – the Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience, Steve Augarde and 20ft Squid Blues Band.
Acclaimed Huddersfield singer Pat Fulgoni fronts this top notch five-piece blues band already with European blues festival dates under their belts and equally at home in UK clubs, venues and festivals. Billboard Magazine once declared that “Pat Fulgoni could sing a pearl from its oyster.”
The Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience features talented musicians from the Leeds scene including Jacob Beckwith on guitar, Rory Wells on bass, Sam Bolt on keys and Zebedee Sylvester on drums.
Pat has sung across many styles including Huddersfield’s Kava Kava and major dance floor collaborations with the likes of festival headlining acts Camo & Krooked, Zion Train, Technimatic, London Elektricity and Murdock.
The band will be on stage at 9pm.
Veteran double bass player and guitarist Steve Augarde is on stage at 6pm and is a regular at the Marsden Jazz Festival over the last 30 years, both as a solo performer and with popular bands The Gents, and Coolhands. Steve brings a unique mixture of styles and material to the gig. Expect anything from Taj Mahal to Commander Cody to Duke Ellington.
The 20ft Squid Blues Band are a Sheffield band playing upbeat, irreverent blues and will kick-off the day at 3pm. They combine elements of the 1950s Chicago style with some of the more wayward aspects of 1960s blues explosion.
They mix in self-penned songs with numbers made famous by the likes of Howling Wolf and Little Walter and throw in some by artists not so obviously from the blues tradition such as Tom Waits and Prince. This is fast-paced, vibrant blues with eye-popping harmonica, thundering bass, intricate beats, choice guitar and a lot of feel.
Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.
