Congleton Unplugged Festival 2013 - 1/2/3rd March 2013
Congleton Unplugged is, I think, a great idea.
Like the Jazz and Blues Festival, it shows the outside world that there is life in rural Cheshire. Congleton used to be a mill town. Now, we have a chance to make it a centre of excellence for great blues, jazz, rock, and many other styles of music.
There is a wealth of musical talent in the region, and Congleton needs a reason to live. Events like this could provide a lifeline, not only to local musicians, but also to the survival of the town centre. However, the two entities need to coexist in a meaningful way, in order to benefit both. We all need to get behind this and help make it work. Word will spread and people will come to Congleton for the music. This is why festivals like Congleton Unplugged, and The Jazz and Blues Festival, are so important to the future of this town.
In my, not so, humble opinion.
Like the Jazz and Blues Festival, it shows the outside world that there is life in rural Cheshire. Congleton used to be a mill town. Now, we have a chance to make it a centre of excellence for great blues, jazz, rock, and many other styles of music.
There is a wealth of musical talent in the region, and Congleton needs a reason to live. Events like this could provide a lifeline, not only to local musicians, but also to the survival of the town centre. However, the two entities need to coexist in a meaningful way, in order to benefit both. We all need to get behind this and help make it work. Word will spread and people will come to Congleton for the music. This is why festivals like Congleton Unplugged, and The Jazz and Blues Festival, are so important to the future of this town.
In my, not so, humble opinion.
On my Beartown Radio shows, I have been happy to promote Congleton Unplugged. I am a fan of music, live blues especially, but it's more than that. I've been proud to be involved. That's not an admission that comes easily to The God of Thunder, I must point out. Still, it needs to be said. It is a great event for the town and it features some local musicians who, I think, are very talented. How can I argue with the artists appearing? If I had been involved with setting it up, I would have selected, pretty much, the exact, same line up. As soon as I had the opportunity, I started playing their music on the air...
So, as Friday, 1st March, rolled around, I was getting quite girlishly excited about the weekend. I could not, possibly, see everything but, I made the local acts my priority, since I was there, not only as a genuine fan, but also wearing my Beartown Radio hat - which I don't have; it's a metaphorical hat (And, No! That is nothing like the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter...). Digression aside, I wanted some vox pops for my show. (That's technical jargon, in the radio business. Oh yeah, I'm bad!)
On Friday I would see Sweet Winn Dixie at The YP then, John Ainsworth, at The Beartown Tap. On Saturday, I was going to be busy. First, Jim Kirkpatrick at Illucini's then, dash up to The Beartown Tap for Phil Maddocks' set then, back to Illucini's to see The Robin Pierce Band.
What?! I'm no spring chicken, you know. Besides, I don't run. That's for mortals.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
4th March 2013
On Friday I would see Sweet Winn Dixie at The YP then, John Ainsworth, at The Beartown Tap. On Saturday, I was going to be busy. First, Jim Kirkpatrick at Illucini's then, dash up to The Beartown Tap for Phil Maddocks' set then, back to Illucini's to see The Robin Pierce Band.
What?! I'm no spring chicken, you know. Besides, I don't run. That's for mortals.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
4th March 2013