Swanage Blues

2013 March

 

 

ARTISTS, REVIEW, COMMENTS, SCHEDULE and VENUES

ARTISTS APPEARING WERE:

Andy Grant Trio, Assorted Buskers, Back Porch, Blind Lemon Gliders, Blue Touch, Blues Machine, C Sharp Blues, Dan Sowerby Band, David Raphael Band, Fabulous Fezheads, F-Rock, Hugh Budden, Jam Sessions with Robin Bibi Band, Jason Manners & 3 Buck Shirt, Jawbreakers, Jay Tamkin, Johnny Sharp, Jon Walsh, Lewis Cohen, Milton-Farrow Skiffle 'n' Blues Band, Motel 6, Mustangs, Open Mic Sessions with Johnny Sharp and Martin Froud, Paint It Blue, Ray Drury, Riotous Brothers, Riverside Blues Band, Robert Hokum & The Devil Drives, Robin Bibi Band, Saiichi Sugiyama Band, Stan's Blues Jamboree, Steamer, Steve Darrington, The I.D.s, The Smokin' Benny Brown Band, Tim Harrison, Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt, Will Killeen, and  Zoe Schwarz & Blue Commotion
 
REVIEW
SWANAGE BLUES FESTIVAL DECLARED BEST EVER by Arron Hendy
Courtesy of Daily Echo, Monday 4th March 2013
 
THE latest Swanage Blues Festival was declared “the best ever” with the town “buzzing” for three days.
The resort’s pubs thronged to the sound of music with visitors also filling the town’s bed and breakfasts and eateries to provide a boost outside of the summer season.
Organiser Steve Darrington was struck down with a bug and missed much of the revelry but said he was buoyed by messages throughout confirming the three day event was a success.
“Everything has gone very well with lots of very happy people,” he said.
“And the artist Robin Bibi said it’s the best ever, which is great considering it is the 19th one.
“One lady sent me a message saying “it’s magical and it’s wonderful to be here”.
The blues festival started as a birthday party for local taxi driver George Crane, who turns 65 this year.
A single £10 weekend wristband ensured entry at 60 gigs in 15 indoor venues.
The venues included pubs and there were popular busking performances at the railway station.
The Corfe Castle Royal British Legion also joined the list of places hosting the acts.
The festival is held twice each year with both dates set outside the tourist season to help traders.
Steve added: “The most important thing is it has brought a lot of business into the town.
“The town has been buzzing all weekend. The bed-and-breakfasts and restaurants were full and that’s lovely.”
 
 
SCHEDULE
All times are approximate and subject to change
 
FRIDAY 1 MARCH         
 2.00pm    Red Lion          Open Mic with Martin Froud & Johnny Sharp
 5.00pm    Bar One            Robin Bibi Band
 6.00pm    Sea Breeze       Lewis Cohen
 6.00pm    Tawny’s           Hugh Budden & Jon Walsh
 8.15pm    Sea Breeze       Lewis Cohen
 8.15pm    Tawny’s           Hugh Budden & Jon Walsh
 8.30pm    East Bar           Robert Hokum & The Devil Drives
 8.30pm    Bar One            Blind Lemon Gliders
 8.30pm    Grand Hotel     Zoe Schwarz & Blue Commotion
 8.45pm    Black Swan      Will Killeen
 9.00pm    White Swan     Riotous Brothers
 9.00pm    Red Lion          Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
 9.00pm    The Legion      The Jawbreakers
 9.00pm    Crow’s Nest     Back Porch
 9.45pm    White Horse    The Mustangs
 9.45pm    Anchor Inn       Riverside Blues Band
10.00pm    Ship, Swanage Motel 6
SATURDAY 2 MARCH   
11.00am    Railway Station Assorted Buskers
12.30pm    Bar One            Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
 1.00pm    The Legion      STAN’S BLUES JAMBOREE till 7pm
 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
 2.30pm    Corfe Legion   David Raphael Band
 2.45pm    Bar One            Jason Manners & 3 Buck Shirt
 3.00pm    White Swan     Back Porch
 3.00pm    Grand Hotel     The Jawbreakers
 3.30pm    Ship, Swanage Riotous Brothers
 5.00pm    Bar One            Hugh Budden & Jon Walsh
 6.00pm    Tawny’s           Lewis Cohen
 6.00pm    Sea Breeze       Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
 7.15pm    Bar One            Dan Sowerby Band
 8.15pm    Tawny’s           Lewis Cohen
 8.15pm    Sea Breeze       Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
 8.30pm    Grand Hotel     Saiichi Sugiyama Band
 8.30pm    East Bar           Jay Tamkin Band
 8.45pm    Black Swan      Will Killeen
 9.00pm    White Swan     The Jawbreakers
 9.00pm    Red Lion          Fabulous Fezheads
 9.00pm    Crow’s Nest     Blue Touch
 9.00pm    The Legion      Robert Hokum’s Journey Through The Blues with The Devil Drives,
 9.45pm    Anchor             C Sharp Blues
 9.45pm    White Horse    Robin Bibi Band
10.00pm    Ship, Swanage The Blues Machine
SUNDAY 3 MARCH        
11.00am    Railway Station              Assorted Buskers
12.30pm    Bar One            Back Porch
12.30pm    Sea Breeze       Lewis Cohen
12.30pm    Tawnys            Tommy Allen & Johnny Hewitt
 1.00pm    Red Lion          Open Mic with Martin Froud & Johnny Sharp
 1.30pm    Black Swan      Will Killeen
 2.00pm    East Bar           The Smokin’ Benny Brown Band
 2.00pm    Corfe Legion   The I.D.s supporting the Riverside Blues Band
 2.30pm    Bar One            Hugh Budden & Jon Walsh
 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     Milton-Farrow Skiffle ‘n’ Blues Band
 4.00pm    Ship, Swanage The Jawbreakers
 4.00pm    The Legion      Andy Grant Trio
 4.30pm    Bar One            Jason Manners & 3 Buck Shirt
 6.30pm    East Bar           Paint It Blue
 8.00pm    The Legion      Milton-Farrow Skiffle ‘n’ Blues Band
 8.30pm    Grand Hotel     GRAND FESTIVAL FINALE Steve Darrington with the Robert Hokum Blues Band
10.00pm    Anchor             F-Rock
 
VENUES

Starting from the pier end of the High Street, the first venue is the East Bar (1 High St) and Bar One next door (also 1 High St), then the White Horse (11), Ship Inn (23a), White Swan (31), Anchor Inn (30), Tawny’s Wine Bar (52), Red Lion (63), Black Swan (159) and a little further on The Legion (150). That concludes the High Street. The lower high street is connected to Station Road by Institute Road opposite the White Swan.

Funworld Café is in the centre of Swanage where Station Road, Shore Road and Institute Road all meet by the Mowlem Theatre.
From Funworld Café go along Shore Road with the bay on your right and Sea Breeze (7 Shore Rd) is on your left; keep on all the way along the bay and at Ocean Bay restaurant (not a venue) bear left up the hill to the Crow’s Nest (11 Ulwell Rd). From the Crow’s Nest, cross over into Burlington Rd for the Grand Hotel.
Corfe Castle Royal British Legion is in Corfe Castle and can be reached by road, bus or train. The last train comes back to Swanage at 5.22pm on Saturday and Sunday (correct at time of writing but always best to check).