Huge Hebden Blues Festival Blows into Town
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Blues 'Royalty' Todd Sharpville to Headline Special Beer to Whet the Appetite
This weekend sees a massive musicfest back in Hebden Bridge. With three dozen bands playing in seven venues across the town, fans of the blues from all over the country are heading our way for the 2012 Hebden Bridge Blues Festival. Mixing major established artists with young and up-and-coming talent, the organisers are committed to providing a festival that will have something for everyone.
Recently short-listed for the title of Best UK Blues Festival after just one year, they have attracted a spectacular list of blues talent of local, national and international musicians who will be in town over the weekend of June 1, 2 and 3. A major highlight will be the popular Women of The Blues night on Sunday which has been brought back after its huge success last year.
The two main venues are The Picture House in New Road and Bar@r place in Crown Street and there are another five places in town ('juke joints') - all within walking distance – some of which will have free gigs. There is even a special beer available called 'Howlin' Fox' which is being provided by local Calderdale micro brewery The Slightly Foxed Brewing Company!
At the time of the Queen's Jubilee, how fitting it is that the organisers of the Festival have booked one of her relations to top the bill!
Internationally renowned bluesman Todd Sharpville will be headlining at the Picture House on Saturday 2nd June. As a titled member of one of the UK's oldest aristocratic families and descending from royal lineage, Todd (aka The Hon. Roland Augusto Jestyn Estanislao Philipps) is the younger son of the 3rd Viscount St Davids.
However, the Festival Organisers, Paddy Maguire and Jason Elliott are not that interested in his connections. "As far as we are concerned, in the blues world Todd is simply a prodigious talent, a stunning performer and song-writer and he has a huge stage presence. We are delighted to have someone of his standing topping the bill. He is Blues royalty even without the ermine and we know he will pack the place out and deliver a storming performance."
Todd has a world-wide reputation in the blues world. His debut album in 1994 was immediately voted Best Blues Album of the Year and the following year he won Best UK Guitarist ahead of Eric Clapton and Gary Moore. Since then, he has played with everybody and he is in constant demand as a song-writer. His credits are a spectrum of world famous names ranging from Brian May, Pink and Robbie Williams to Van Morrison, Taj Mahal and B.B.King and he has undertaken numerous sell-out tours across Europe and America.
Make sure you get your tickets fast as this is a big gig not to be missed www.yorkshirebluesfestival.co.uk
See also
HebWeb News: Hebden Bridge Blues Festival may be the best in the country
HebWeb News: The Cream of the Blues coming to the Calder Valley next month