2012 March

THE 12th SWANAGE BLUES FESTIVAL - 2, 3, 4 MARCH 2012

ARTISTS, COMMENTS and SCHEDULE

ARTISTS

Assorted Buskers, Back Porch, Blind Lemon Gliders, Blue Touch, Blues Machine, The, C Sharp Blues, Clare Free, Coalhouse Walker, David Raphael Band, Fabulous Fezheads, Guv'nors, The, Howling At The Moon Duo, Hugh Budden, Jam Sessions with Robin Bibi Band, Jason Manners & 3 Buck Shirt, Jawbreakers, Jay Tamkin, John Crampton, Johnny Sharp, Kevin Brown, Kris Dollimore, Lewis Cohen, Martin Froud, Milton-Farrow Skiffle 'n' Blues Band, Motel 6, Mustangs, Open Mic Sessions, Paint It Blue, Pearl Handled Revolver, Pete Harris Duo and Blues Band, Ray Drury, Riverside Blues Band, Robert Hokum Band, Robin Bibi Band, Steamer, Steve Darrington, Tim Harrison, Tin Cats, The, Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt, Will Killeen,

You can ensure the future of these wonderful weekends - click here to become a Friend of Swanage Blues!

COMMENTS

A & R said:

We missed the latest festival as we left it late and couldn't get accommodation, so we looked around and went to Banbury Blues and Roots Festival instead. Up there you pay for both the one day afternoon and the evening sessions separately (together £30'ish). Heard some great players but there was nowhere near the diversity of music you find at Swanage. So we've booked in early for Swanage for October to avoid a repeat. How you manage to resource it I'll never know. Happy to give to Bucketeers and the wristband is a great idea.

WM said:

Thank you Steve for yet again putting on this wonderful escape into Music Heaven. Only wish I could either clone myself or have the energy to manage the entire 36 hours of a brilliant choice of music. This would cost a fortune anywhere else and possibly include lots of mud, and rip off food and drink prices too.

So far I haven't managed to see everyone I would like - but then that gives me the excuse to book immediately for the next one (or two). Most places I know of charge £10 for two hours of a single line-up, or at least £5 in the jug for the Band. I am so sorry you only seem to be getting enough donations to 'tread water'. I think the idea of paid wrist bands are a good idea, as were the programmes.

If I win big on the lottery, you will be one of the first to benefit. Love, hugs and please keep going, see you in October, if not before.

J&RT said:

We have been coming to both Blues Festivals, in our motor home for the last 5 years.

We love everything about The Swanage Blues Fest and would happily give £10 each. The wristbands are a great idea, you wouldn’t need to carry loose change around and can relax and enjoy the music knowing that you and everyone else has contributed to the music / fest fund. Some of the pubs are so crowded that its impossible to get around with a bucket, so therefore, you are missing out on donations.

The music was fantastic last weekend and we particularly enjoyed Paint It Blue and Motel 6. Many thanks for all your hard work in organising this fantastic festival.

D&J said:

This was our first visit and it won’t be our last. We couldn’t get over the relaxed feel of the whole town during the event, the friendliness of everyone and the massive amount of enjoyment we got from having the opportunity to listen to so many different musicians (we particularly enjoyed Tommy Allan and Johnny Hewitt). Even the weather was amazing with the thick fog, sunburn and snow over the 3 days!

We think wristbands would be a great idea as it was sometimes very difficult to reach a Bucketeer through the crowds. As we also put in about £40, we can’t believe the average worked out to be the paltry sum of £2 per person. Although I did overhear a group of people at The Grand Hotel on Friday evening say that they were not going to contribute because they were paying more for their beer than they normally would. What a cheek!

You are a genius to put such a fantastic Festival on, Steve, and you deserve it to be a financial success with a secure future. So it would be wonderful to come up with a way of sidestepping those undeserving people who will take something for nothing.

B&K said:

Many thanks for another great weekend. We think your idea of wristbands is a very good one. If everyone donated £10 or £15 for the weekend and was given a wristband then everybody would know that they'd paid.

We each always put a fiver in the bucket at the beginning of the day and any loose change at the end, but it still feels a bit awkward walking past a Bucketeer without putting something in. Sadly we can't make October festival but are looking forward to the next March one. As ever, keep up the good work.

THE BLUES MACHINE said:

It's Ash from The Blues Machine here. Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed playing, and we're very grateful for the opportunity to do so! We had a very successful weekend and I'm glad that we managed to have a chat (even though a short one!). Hope you enjoyed the festival as much as we did.

If there's any possibility of playing any future blues festivals, we would love to. We realise it's unlikely due to the number of applications you get from artists to play, but enjoyed it so much that we'd love to do it again!

It was a great experience, and I want to thank you for putting on such a brilliant event, and l look forward to October!

GR said:

Just been to my first festival and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would be willing to pay £5 to£10 a day as you cannot get a better organised event with so much choice over 3 days. The wrist bands would be a good idea as it often looks as though you won't put money in a bucket when shaken in front of you, when you may have put a decent contribution in the one before. Well done and keep the event going

LT said:

Many thanks for such a great festival.

I love the casual relaxed format but I am flabbergasted and somewhat ashamed, (actually stronger than that, I’m horrified, disgusted) at the mean contributions. Next time in October I’m going to take a bucket on either Saturday or Sunday – that’s a promise, and I’ll see if I can persuade a few punters to throw their pound coins in instead of their pennies!!

B&S said:

Blues fest was fab as always - we bought along the elder kids and family members and all enjoyed it greatly and I enjoyed collecting autographs in the new mag. We always give a lot more than £2 and notice others that don’t contribute. I think wrist bands are a fab idea

J&J said:

Fantastic weekend, loved Robin Bibi and Back Porch but everyone was brill - good idea wristbands. We will be there October!

SF said:

£5, £10 Still fantastic value Steve!

JR said:

We attended the Festival for the first time this year and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Not having been to Swanage before, it was great to walk from venue to venue (pub to pub!) and experience some fabulous music. Congratulations to everyone involved.

Having been to other festivals where we have had to pay for a ticket, it did occur to me over the weekend how the Bucketeers would have any idea of contributions so I applaud your idea of a wrist band for the festival. I was horrified to read your calculation of an average contribution of £2 per person per weekend. My husband & I contributed £30 - £40 and would be happy to do the same again.

CO said:

Thank you Steve for organising such a great event. It was our first festival in March but we have accommodation booked for October and are looking forward to it already. As other people have also said, there was such a positive and friendly feeling everywhere and it's such a shame that some folks didn't donate more generously. What a disappointing average per person for such a great weekend of the blues! I hope that all of those people who came along and enjoyed a free ride, read all of the comments and feel suitably sheepish and ashamed of themselves, they know who they are. I think that wrist bands are a great idea for helping to secure the future of festivals to come.

BF said:

Yes, £10 for the weekend is reasonable, in fact v. good value!

AC said:

We can't thank you enough for your hard work in making Swanage Blues such a wonderful experience. Long may it continue. Our highlight was Paint it Blue, a fantastic band and a friendly venue at the Crows Nest. October 2012 already booked .

JF said:

First visit to Swanage... ever. Lovely music, lovely weather (lying on the beach Saturday), lovely people. Hi guys in the Black Swan ( lovely landlord). I will come back as I luv it!

RS said:

Many, many thanks for your organisation in putting together a great weekend’s entertainment, in homage to the BLUES.

I have just returned home to France after my seventh consecutive festival and my mind is awash with great memories and the warmth from meeting past friends.

The new bands this year were in my mind exceptional, Blues Machine, young energetic and eager to please, Jay Tamkin, very accomplished and big sound for a trio and then for my money what about Jason Manners & 3 Buck Shirt. At the White Swan on Saturday afternoon, competing with the Johnny’s Open Mike and Robin’s Jam session they were simply outstanding, the soul and passion of their playing, the mixture of old and new blues with their particular take was just music to my ears

Long may we all continues to be able to experience such enjoyment, through providing our contributions to the hard working Bucketeers

PHOTOGRAPHERS LOUNGE said:

HUGE shout out for Steve Darrington and PuMP Sound and Lighting for a superb weekend. I expect every business owner in Swanage would share these views. Fantastic Weekend, well done all!

ROBIN BIBI said:

You are a legend mate... can’t thank you enough for what you are doing for live music! Thanks to Steve and everyone else...this was the best fest yet for us!! 3 days of love peace and fabulous music...!!!!

MOTEL 6 said:

It's a great thing that in these tough times there are people like Steve Darrington ....Swanage Blues Festival is the highlight of my musical year.....and it happens twice!!!

N&J said:

Just wanted to say 'THANKS' for yet another great festival. Saw some great bands and some great friends including David Raphael - Lewis Cohen as well as Jason Manners - GREAT SHOWS by all.

FABULOUS FEZHEADS said:

Thanks and well done again, Steve. You really have created something wonderful. I hope it’s appreciated as much by others as we do.

ROBERT HOKUM said:

Always a delight to play to an audience that wants to listen and always gratifying to know that they've come to see you when there are so many other fine acts in town. My therapist tells me that the applause at the end of the guitar solos is very good for my self-esteem - but that I need to keep it in perspective

At The East Bar, we had the obligatory bloke dancing in front of the band, I'd say he was late 20's-early 30's well dressed and quite well spoken. At the end of the gig he said to me: “I've never seen live music before, but you guys were great.” Good that his first experience of live music was a Swanage Blues experience!!!!!

Once again, Gold Star & House points all round to Steve D and the Bucketeers. Look forward to seeing some of you at The Ealing Blues Festival - details of which you'll find in the Swanage Blues Festival programme (which I hope you all bought!). Cheers!

RIVERSIDE BLUES BAND said:

Both Riverside Blues Blues Band and Steamer (plus a number of stowaways!) had a fab time at the festival. Appreciative audiences in both The Anchor and Country Foods Kitchen and friendly, helpful staff too. Good work Steve! Stan & Helen

BACK PORCH said:

Have just recovered from a great weekend. Phew! It was one of the best! The Bucketeers were great! Everyone was friendly as usual and you even made the sun come out at the right time (Sunday). We love it

DF said:

What an awesome weekend of great music , nice to see the town buzzing with people and some great musicians. And once again well done to Steve Darrington for putting on a great music festival. Thank you.

LL said:

Once again what a wonderful Festival. The standard of music was amazing. I could go on and mention the best gigs but it would mean I would have to go through the complete programme. Thanks for all your time and effort it is appreciated.

PD said:

Well that’s the Drinking, Dancing and Debauchery done with for now. Saw some great bands, met some wonderful people and made a heap of new friends. Proper Proper Party. Heading back home in a while, but already looking forward to October. Thank You Steve, Maggie, and everyone else involved in bringing this together – You make this party happen.

THE LEGION:

Thank you for such a wonderful weekend which was very successful for our club. Hope everything ran the way you wanted and you had a successful festival. Long may it continue

WHITE SWAN said:

It was yet another great weekend. Really Steve thank you. It's a very long winter in this business and you have no idea what a difference a weekend like this makes. It's actually a life saver and without it, it would make things a hell of a lot tougher. All with the added bonus of being a great weekend, great music and of course great organisation. I hope people appreciate what you do as much as I do. Thank you

MS said:

Fab weekend as always. Highlights for me - The Blues Machine, Jay Tamkin Band, Pearl Handled Revolver, The Guv'nors, Robin Bibi Band and the White Horse Jams. Oh, and The Legion as a venue. If only you could be in two places at once!

JOHNNY SHARP (OPEN MIC) said:

The best Swanage blues festival yet with amazing 'open mic' talents from all over the UK! A huge thank you to everyone who performed and attended. See everyone back in October for another top weekend of blues

JO said:

Hi Steve, just wanted to say what a fantastic man I think you are. I don’t think you realise you are personally responsible for putting thousands of smiles on tens of thousands of people faces. That is one hell of an achievement, so proud to know you even if only a little bit.

L said:

A big thank you. Once again your outstanding efforts have provided us old bluehounds with a weekend to remember.

MG said:

Great festival and organisation as always. Stonkingly good gig and atmosphere at the White Swan Sunday

DM said:

Steve - thanks for another cracking weekend of great music !!!!!!

IT said:

Absolutely cracking weekend! Can't wait for the next!

WR said:

Another superb music weekend! Lots of favourites to see again, and a new

talent discovered in Tim Harrison - a great boogie woogie piano player

SK said:

Really enjoyed all the bands I saw, and good sound, thanks to all involved.

VF said:

Just to say we had a fab time as usual. How did you manage to get sunshine on Saturday?!

DY said:

Congratulations on another fantastic weekend. Keep up the great work. Can't wait until October.

TG said:

Belter of a festival sirrah! Here's to many more.

CB said:

Congratulations & a huge thank you

PC said:

Well done Steve -another great blues weekend

EG said:

The Blues Machine was the youngest band there and one of the best. Suspect they have a great future to look forward to. Amazing musicianship, regardless of their age

AP said:

My second time at Swanage Blues Festival and honestly with bands such as The Blues Machine performing at such a professional standard and putting on such an entertaining show, the weekend has been magical. Not to forget the wonderful jam sessions, people, places, and food and drink you encounter, can't wait for the next one!

BF said:

Thanks for a superb weekend at Swanage. We drove down from Leicester on Friday morning and home again on Monday morning feeling thoroughly entertained and quite hung over and an excellent finale at the Grand Hotel to round things off. Looking forward to October.

RAY DRURY said:

Great playing with you at the finale Steve. Well done for organising yet another festival.

PAINT IT BLUE said:

We all had an amazing time at Swanage Blues Festival - thanks to everybody who was there for such a great weekend!! Great to see old friends and make new ones too

C SHARP BLUES said:

Thanks Steve & The Bucketeers! Had a brilliant night at the Anchor last night....great crowd...great venue...all smiley happy peeps...we shook the blues off big time

JAY TAMKIN BAND said:

Jay Tamkin Band enjoyed playing The East Bar - Swanage Blues Festival, thanks to everyone who came & supported Jay!

THE BLUES MACHINE said:

Thank you for a most sensational weekend Steve, it was wonderful!

TIM HARRISON said:

Well my solo spot at the legion went well, and I had a stroll round town afterwards checking out some other cool bands and people. Lewis Cohen, absolutely fantastic! Steve Darrington you're doing a great job!!

BLUE TOUCH said:

Thank you for another wonderful weekend at Swanage . Your efforts, patience and skill in putting it all together never fail to astound me!

MILTON-FARROW SKIFFLE ‘N’ BLUES BAND said:

Thanks for having us. Had a great time and really enjoyed both venues.

ED & THE JAWBREAKERS said:

What a fantastic weekend. We had such a great time, and staying over the weekend gave us chance to see some of the other acts too. I would very much like to thank the management and staff at the British Legion for looking after us so brilliantly on Friday night, the management and staff at the Grand for a fabulous time on Saturday night, and Everyone at the Ship for such a great time on Sunday afternoon.

I managed to speak at length to many of the festival goers who were just fantastic. The Bucketeers deserve special thanks! they really are heroes, and finally, thanks to you , Steve, for organising such a wonderful festival - i think the best yet! from all of us in the band I can't thank you enough for giving us the opportunity to play. I do hope you're feeling better and have managed to relax a bit in the days since. Thanks again

JOHN CRAMPTON said:

Thanks for everything. Gig went very well at Bar 7. Reasonably busy at Grand but audience a bit laid back.

TR said:

Can't believe its over already!... but looking forward to the next one

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY 2 MARCH 2012
2.00pm Red Lion	Open Mic with Martin Froud & Johnny Sharp
5.00pm Bar Se7en	Robin Bibi Band
6.00pm Tawny’s Wine Bar	Pete Harris & Hugh Budden
6.00pm Sea Breeze	Kevin Brown
8.15pm Tawny’s Wine Bar	Pete Harris & Hugh Budden
8.15pm Sea Breeze	Kevin Brown
8.30pm East Bar	Jay Tamkin Band
8.30pm Grand Hotel	John Crampton
8.45pm Black Swan	Will Killeen
9.00pm Bar Se7en	Blind Lemon Gliders
9.00pm White Swan	Back Porch
9.00pm Red Lion	Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
9.00pm The Legion	The Jawbreakers
9.00pm Crow’s Nest	Paint It Blue
9.00pm Ship, Langton	Jason Manners & 3 Buck Shirt
9.30pm Ship, Swanage	Pearl Handled Revolver
9.45pm White Horse	The Mustangs
9.45pm Anchor Inn	Riverside Blues Band
SATURDAY 3 MARCH 2012
11.00am Railway Station	Assorted Buskers
11.30am Funworld Café	Meet and Greet - Music by Lewis Cohen
12.30pm Bar Se7en	Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
1.00pm The Legion	STARS OF SWANAGE BLUES till 8pm
1.00pm The Legion	Pete Harris & Hugh Budden
2.00pm East Bar	Fabulous Fezheads
2.00pm White Horse	Jam Session with Robin Bibi Band
2.00pm Red Lion	Open Mic with Martin Froud & Johnny Sharp
3.00pm Bar Se7en	Paint It Blue
3.00pm White Swan	Jason Manners & 3 Buck Shirt
3.00pm The Legion	Kevin Brown
3.00pm Grand Hotel	Milton-Farrow Skiffle & Blues Band
3.30pm Ship, Swanage	The Blues Machine
5.00pm The Legion	Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
5.30pm Bar Se7en	John Crampton
6.00pm Tawny’s Wine Bar	Kevin Brown
6.00pm Sea Breeze	Lewis Cohen
7.00pm The Legion	Tim Harrison
7.30pm Brook Tea Rooms	T B A
7.30pm Bar Se7en	David Raphael Band
7.30pm Country Foods	Steamer
8.15pm Sea Breeze	Lewis Cohen
8.15pm Tawny’s Wine Bar	Kevin Brown
8.30pm Grand Hotel	The Jawbreakers
8.30pm East Bar	The Guv’nors
8.45pm Black Swan	Will Killeen
9.00pm White Swan	Coalhouse Walker Blues Band
9.00pm Red Lion	Fabulous Fezheads
9.00pm Crow’s Nest	Back Porch
9.00pm The Legion	Blue Touch
9.45pm Anchor	C Sharp Blues
9.45pm White Horse	Robin Bibi Band
10.00pm Ship, Swanage	Motel 6
SUNDAY 4 MARCH 2012
11.00am Railway Station	Assorted Buskers
11.30am Funworld Café	Meet and Greet - Music by Kevin Brown
12.00pm Bar Se7en	Coalhouse Walker Blues Band
12.30pm Sea Breeze	Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
1.00pm Red Lion	Open Mic with Martin Froud & Johnny Sharp
1.00pm Kingston CC	Howling At The Moon Duo (lunch) CANCELLED
1.30pm Black Swan	Will Killeen
2.30pm Bar Se7en	Robert Hokum Blues Band
3.00pm White Horse	Jam Session with Robin Bibi Band
3.00pm White Swan	Blue Touch
3.00pm Anchor	David Raphael Band
3.00pm Grand Hotel	Kris Dollimore
3.30pm The Legion	Clare Free
4.00pm Ship, Swanage	The Jawbreakers
5.00pm Bar Se7en	Back Porch
5.30pm The Legion	Milton-Farrow Skiffle & Blues Band
6.30pm East Bar	The Blues Machine
8.30pm Grand Hotel	FESTIVAL FINALE Pete Harris Blues Band with Hugh Budden, Ray Drury and Steve Darrington
10.00pm Anchor	The Tin Cats