Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
Despite the massive competition World Cup Final and Wimbledon Mens Final another bumper crowd turnedout at Oswestry Music Live 2006.
With storm clouds looming from midday, it was touch and go whether lastyears attendance would be repeated it was. Once again it proved to bea great day out for all ages. Thankfully for the organisers, onlyintermittent light showers fell, posing no problems for the crowds enjoymentof the top class entertainment.
The main stage hosted both established and up-and-coming performers,beginning with stalwarts The Gatecrashers and their pulsating set, featuringa stunning cover The Whos Substitute, setting the tone for the restof the day.
Lanfyllin quartet Vendetta comprise of three 15-year-olds and a 14-year-olddrummer Joey Chetwood. Playing a mix of originals Move, Roots Radicals,Waiting Around from their self-titled album, and covers, they improvedas the set wore on, with superb interpretations of Led Zeppelins WholeLotta Love and Hendrixs Voodoo Chile.
Star musician was guitarist Jamie Terrill who played out of his skin, andwell beyond his tender years.
Knocking on the big time is Yorkshire lass, 27 year-old blonde Helen Boulding,whos debut single What A Fool, released July 31, featured on CapitalRadio, has recently done sessions for Bob Harris and Janice Long on BBC Radio.Keyboard-player Helen is in the classic British singer-songwriter mould,whos in the business for the long run. Her six song set and dulcet toneswere mesmerising. Next single Copenhagen is out in September.
Attracting massive attention in Germany and UK is Manchesters Strangefish,whove shifted 500 copies of their Oswestry-recorded album Fortune Tellingin Germany already. Together for six years, the quintet is now being comparedwith Genesis and other Prog-Rockers, with anthemic tracks Wallflowerand Have You Seen The Light getting a huge reaction from the crowd.Stand-in bassist Rick Bridge did a superb job. Charismatic frontman SteveTaylor held court in majestic fashion, leading his troops through aspellbinding four song set.
Catch the band at Summers End Festival at Robin 2 Wolverhampton on September29.
Most improved act of the event was local heroes Blindsyde, (Chicago RockCafé UK finalists), who have progressed beyond belief in the past year.Their music has matured immensely. Theres more sonic experimentation,complete with new guitarist Paul Smith and the use of the forgotten WahWah, which beefed up a set worthy of a stadium act of the future. Openingwith rip-roaring licks on Wake Up, they stormed through a tight andprofessional six-song set, closing with funky baselines and more Wah Wahlashings on I Belong.
Other local act Seven Days To Sunday proved they can give and excellent settoo, mixing covers (The Killers/Yellowcard) and originals, with Rob Quinnstealing the show on keys – lead ballad After Everything.
Red-hot American rockers Blanco Diablo from Charlotte, North Carolina,influenced by classic rockers Jimmy Page (Led Zep), Ritchie Blackmore,Gary More, and Marc Bolan gave a blistering set of six tracks (raucous licksand riffs aplenty by fire-fingers Jamie Ray) highlighted on What Do Mefrom their new album Paper Poison Revolution and T-Rexs20th Century Boy. The trio, who are getting acclaimed reviews, haveall the makings of a top band.
Back for a second year, American Lisa Mills, accompanied again by BTPBbassist Ian Jennings, left the crowd stunned with her achingly beautifulblues vocals. Her deft finger work, playing a recently purchased 1947Epiphone Arctop guitar was the icing on the cake for a lady who is a matchfor compatriot Bonnie Raitt any day.
On the up is local 18 year-old Libby Gliksman, who is now on course for aFrench degree at John Moores University Liverpool. Giving a very matureperformance, Libby belted out standards: Cry Me A River, Fever,through to Sandi Thoms chart topper I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker. Vocalhighlight was a sublime Dream A Little Dream, where she showed herrange and class.
Penultimate main stage act and festival favourites, A Little Bit Of Chaosfrom Wrexham, gave a predictably polished performance. Lead by charismaticfrontman Paul Sturman, the quartet stormed through covers AmericasHorse With No Name, Crowded Houses Weather With You, The Who’sSqueeze Box and originals Little Bit Of Time and Somebody ElsesSomebody, as always, featuring some stunning lead guitar by Amos Cooper.
Catch them at Fat Cat Café Bar, Wrexham Bus Station, King Street, Wrexham onThursday 20 July, 8.30pm. Free entry. 01978-266791.
Headliners, Big Town Play Boys lead by cool main-man Chad Strentz roundedoff a thrilling selection of festival styles with an hours romp throughstandards by Ray Charles Mess Around, Freddie King Tears OnYour Letter, Tore Down, Tom Waits Down In The Hole and closingwith guest singer Lisa Mils on Charles classic, Hit The Road Jack.
On the acoustic stage acts included Catrin Jones from St.Asaph, who gave amasterclass in singing technique, strolling through covers, including GnarlsBarkleys hit Crazy, and Green Days Wake Me Up When September Ends.
Contact Catrin at cosmicat55@ hotmail.com / 07971162920 / 01745-730047
Mark Hayward, based in Grove Oxfordshire, filled in superbly with someachingly beautiful songs by Radiohead, Tom Petty and a daring version PinkFloyds Wish You Were Here.
Multi-talented Simon Ark chose to cover the greats in his inimitable style Leadbellys Midnight Special, Robert Johnsons Crossroads andJohn Lee Hookers Crawling Kingsnake.
The event closed once again with Porthywaen Silver Band followed by aspectacular fireworks display.
Rating: 10/10
Weblinks:www.strangefish.co.uk /www.alittlebitofchaos.com /www.LisaMills.com /www.smokintequila.co.uk /www.blindsyde.net /www.helenboulding.com /www.myspace.com/helenboulding /www.bigtowplayboys.com /www.rockbridgemusic.com /www.rockbridgeradio.com
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.