Rochdale bluesman opens Morecambe Bluesfest

Will Tang

Rochdale bluesman Will Tang kicked off the Morecambe Blueswater festival again last night (Thursday 18 June) after much success last year.

Ma Murphy's Irish Bar was the venue and despite a lack of numbers in the audience, Tang and his band had those who were there, including Rochdale Online, drooling at his guitar work and his harmonica playing.

Tang’s set list included a few of his own numbers, such as Red City Blues, Travellin Man and Love Bites, all from his Everything Changes album.

A cover of Spoonful (Howlin Wolf or Cream, take your pick) was backed up with impressive improvisation – the off the cuff interaction between Tang and Scott Witley on bass and Mike Partridge on drums testament to the high standard of musicianship deserving of a far larger audience.

The Bluesfest continues today (Friday 19 June) and on Saturday 20 June, there will be an outdoor element added to the show outside the Platform with the best in acoustic, delta and rock blues between 12 noon and 5pm. The festival then moves inside the Platform from 7pm to 12 midnight with another superb Blues show headlined by top American bluesman Eugene Hideaway Bridges, the son of prestigious blues guitarist Hideaway Slim and coming from the same Bullock family as the legendary Tina Turner. Eugene has played all the major USA Blues festivals around the world. He has reached No 4 in the US Living Blues charts and been nominated for 3 USA Cammy awards. Other artistes expected to appear at the festival include Doc Brown & the Groovecats, the Roach Twins, Dave Arcari from Scotland and the Swamp Dogs.

For Will Tang, it is off to Blackpool and Luton next week before playing at the Dundee Blues Festival next weekend.