Woolley Festival

And so it was that Woolley "Festival" happened. A weekend of rock bands in a pub, kicked off on Friday night by the much better than expected Old Man's Hat who I thought would be some folk 'n fiddle group but turned out to be an excellent and tight blues covers band with a scrawny bearded frontman with a really good voice.
Saturday started off with The Saboteurs with the voice-to-die-for of Steve Loudon and the professor of guitar Paul Hartshorn. Carnaby Street followed - a 60s tribute band with a housewife on guitar. The Volt followed them and gave what I thought was a competant performance which could have been improved by the odd smile or two. While technically and musically they are obviously better than before they have lost that performance edge and connection with the audience that they once had which was what set them apart before and now are in danger of melding into that mass of indie bands. Hell of a lead guitarist though!! Talking of the melding mass, Patchway Theft had most people scurrying to the bar as refuge from the flat singing and dour songs. Finally and worth waiting for were The Nots - already blues pros with Will Southward's sublime guitar playing and Mike overacting as usual - at one point joined by Steve Loudon for the incredible rendition of "Red House". It's a pity they are now just an occasional band. Maybe now Will has finished his course he might be in the market for forming a new more regular band???