Ramblin' Roots Revue (Day 3) - Sunday 8 April - High Wycombe
Sunday morning dawned, for some I suspect slightly blurry after the late night before. But coffee and breakfast done and we were ready for the final day of Ramblin' Roots. The set-up was slightly different today with the first three acts on the small stage, then the rest of the day moving on to the main stage. Inevitably this left slightly longer gaps between sets, but it did make for a more relaxed feel. Music started at 10:30 and The Savannahs had already completed their set when we reached the venue. Easily finding a seat in the Whiskey Saloon we settled down to listen to Ags Connolly. I find it a surprise that I like Ags' music. He's quite traditional country which often puts me off, but the quirkiness of the fact that he hails from Witney and delivers his songs with an element of self deprecating humour wins me over. After his set I had a brief chat with him and got him to sign an album for me. While doing so I got roped in to a conversation with Alma, who presents a regular roots music show on Witney radio. Within 10 minutes she was introducing me to others she had met and was suggesting if I now had time on my hands (I'd let it slip that I'd just retired) that I could do a show of my own for them if I wanted to!! - watch this space - you never know.
I enjoyed the pleasant harmonies and guitar playing of next up, Smith & Brewer then it was off to the main stage where Polly Paulusma was first on. Not so sure that the organisers got the staging right for these last two as Polly I think would have gone down a lot better on the smaller stage where people could have sat and listened, but hey-ho she did her best but her music did little for me.
Next on were Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou who I've seen a good few times before. Their set included quite a few new songs and my impression of them was that they have made big steps forward of late in their song writing and playing. Trevors voice has got noticeably stronger and I thoroughly enjoyed their set.
I hadn't looked into anything about The Raving Beauties beforehand so had no idea what to expect of them. In fact in my mind I'd taken their name a bit too literally and was anticipating for some reason an all girl group of Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette look-alikes. So it was a bit of a surprise to me when three guitarists, the Bennett brothers, Robin & Joe, plus Tom Collinson took to the stage. Supported by a back-line of Fin Kenny on drums and Tristan Tipping on bass the line up was completed by Irish singer Brian Bell who introduced the band and told us of the songs they'd be playing in memory of a late musician friend, Bap Kennedy. The sound that they produced with three guitars and harmonies chiming together with strong echoes of The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and the Young Rascals proved to be another of the highlights of the weekend.
Much anticipated was the set from Danny (Champ) George Wilson and friends in their brand new band which goes by the straightforward and self explanatory moniker of Bennett, Wilson, Poole. With one time producer Tony Poole on 12 string Rickenbacker , Robin Bennett on electric and Danny on acoustic guitar it soon became apparent that CSNY is where much of their influences lie. They proceeded to run through most of their new album, the cover (see note*) of which shows them seated in front of an old building on comfy chairs, reminiscent of the eponymous first CS&N album. Several of the songs were noteworthy I felt, in that they had a political edge to them, something not normally a feature of Danny's other work. Two in particular that stood out for me were Lifeboat and Hate Won't Win, the latter inspired in the aftermath of the shocking murder of Jo Cox MP.
Note* - Incidentally the BWP album cover shot was taken by Bristol gig photographer John Morgan who was present throughout the weekend photographing all of the bands on stage - he takes mostly in black and white - his work is well worth checking out @ https://www.johnmorganphotography.co.uk/
So on to the final band of the weekend, Orphan Colours who again are made up from elements of other bands notably Stevie Brookes from the Champs on drums plus former members of Ahab and Noah & the Whale - none of whose names I can recall. Unfortunately with a train to catch we didn't hear all of their set but what we did was pretty good. I'll have to try to catch up with them again sometime.
To sum up the weekend, it was an excellent and well run event with plenty to get your teeth into. Not everything was entirely to my taste but I'd say that I was happy with at least 75% of the bands we saw. The food was fine and reasonably well priced as was the beer - although they did seem to run out of the lower strength ones which I prefer, pretty early on. Each of the days were different to my mind. Friday was a straightforward gig night leading up to a closing headline act. Saturday had the most festival feel about it with so many bands to see on three stages over an extended period. Then Sunday, the crowds had thinned out and the whole vibe had a much more relaxed feel with time for chatting without the pressure to move on to the next highlight.
This is the second year of this event and it is to be hoped that it becomes an annual fixture. Already looking forward to 2019.
I enjoyed the pleasant harmonies and guitar playing of next up, Smith & Brewer then it was off to the main stage where Polly Paulusma was first on. Not so sure that the organisers got the staging right for these last two as Polly I think would have gone down a lot better on the smaller stage where people could have sat and listened, but hey-ho she did her best but her music did little for me.
Next on were Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou who I've seen a good few times before. Their set included quite a few new songs and my impression of them was that they have made big steps forward of late in their song writing and playing. Trevors voice has got noticeably stronger and I thoroughly enjoyed their set.
Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou doing their usual on-stage inspection of each others tonsils!
The Arlenes on the other hand really are a bit to "country & western" for my liking. I know you should't pre-judge, but cowboy hats and boots tend to put me off before I even hear a note played. To be fair to them, I did give them a few minutes listen and my instincts were right so I went and grabbed something to eat.I hadn't looked into anything about The Raving Beauties beforehand so had no idea what to expect of them. In fact in my mind I'd taken their name a bit too literally and was anticipating for some reason an all girl group of Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette look-alikes. So it was a bit of a surprise to me when three guitarists, the Bennett brothers, Robin & Joe, plus Tom Collinson took to the stage. Supported by a back-line of Fin Kenny on drums and Tristan Tipping on bass the line up was completed by Irish singer Brian Bell who introduced the band and told us of the songs they'd be playing in memory of a late musician friend, Bap Kennedy. The sound that they produced with three guitars and harmonies chiming together with strong echoes of The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and the Young Rascals proved to be another of the highlights of the weekend.
Much anticipated was the set from Danny (Champ) George Wilson and friends in their brand new band which goes by the straightforward and self explanatory moniker of Bennett, Wilson, Poole. With one time producer Tony Poole on 12 string Rickenbacker , Robin Bennett on electric and Danny on acoustic guitar it soon became apparent that CSNY is where much of their influences lie. They proceeded to run through most of their new album, the cover (see note*) of which shows them seated in front of an old building on comfy chairs, reminiscent of the eponymous first CS&N album. Several of the songs were noteworthy I felt, in that they had a political edge to them, something not normally a feature of Danny's other work. Two in particular that stood out for me were Lifeboat and Hate Won't Win, the latter inspired in the aftermath of the shocking murder of Jo Cox MP.
Note* - Incidentally the BWP album cover shot was taken by Bristol gig photographer John Morgan who was present throughout the weekend photographing all of the bands on stage - he takes mostly in black and white - his work is well worth checking out @ https://www.johnmorganphotography.co.uk/
So on to the final band of the weekend, Orphan Colours who again are made up from elements of other bands notably Stevie Brookes from the Champs on drums plus former members of Ahab and Noah & the Whale - none of whose names I can recall. Unfortunately with a train to catch we didn't hear all of their set but what we did was pretty good. I'll have to try to catch up with them again sometime.
To sum up the weekend, it was an excellent and well run event with plenty to get your teeth into. Not everything was entirely to my taste but I'd say that I was happy with at least 75% of the bands we saw. The food was fine and reasonably well priced as was the beer - although they did seem to run out of the lower strength ones which I prefer, pretty early on. Each of the days were different to my mind. Friday was a straightforward gig night leading up to a closing headline act. Saturday had the most festival feel about it with so many bands to see on three stages over an extended period. Then Sunday, the crowds had thinned out and the whole vibe had a much more relaxed feel with time for chatting without the pressure to move on to the next highlight.
This is the second year of this event and it is to be hoped that it becomes an annual fixture. Already looking forward to 2019.
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