Congleton Unplugged 2014 - 2nd March 2014
Sunday
Beartown Stompers (YP)
If I hadn't had enough '20s and '30s jazz, with the Jake Leg Jug Band the previous evening then, Sunday was another prime opportunity for time travel, with The Beartown Stompers. I was even prepared to brave The YP for the occasion. Even in the day time, it is dark and due to the severe lack of foreground lighting, the band appears as a silhouette in front of the window. To get the photos, I had to play with the camera a lot or, all you would get is a nice Aubrey Beardsley. Still, I wasn't going to let the venue's shortcomings spoil the afternoon's entertainment.
The Beartown Stompers is a damn fine Dixieland jazz band, featuring Trumpet, Trombone, Sax, Banjo, and bass. I don't know that much about jazz, I just know what I like when I hear it. To me, this is the sound I've heard on records of New Orleans jazz bands who played foot-tapping, ass-wiggling, head-shaking boogie, woogie, and Lawdy Mama, good time music. What else can I tell you? Oh yeah. These guys kick some serious ass!
Beartown Stompers (YP)
If I hadn't had enough '20s and '30s jazz, with the Jake Leg Jug Band the previous evening then, Sunday was another prime opportunity for time travel, with The Beartown Stompers. I was even prepared to brave The YP for the occasion. Even in the day time, it is dark and due to the severe lack of foreground lighting, the band appears as a silhouette in front of the window. To get the photos, I had to play with the camera a lot or, all you would get is a nice Aubrey Beardsley. Still, I wasn't going to let the venue's shortcomings spoil the afternoon's entertainment.
The Beartown Stompers is a damn fine Dixieland jazz band, featuring Trumpet, Trombone, Sax, Banjo, and bass. I don't know that much about jazz, I just know what I like when I hear it. To me, this is the sound I've heard on records of New Orleans jazz bands who played foot-tapping, ass-wiggling, head-shaking boogie, woogie, and Lawdy Mama, good time music. What else can I tell you? Oh yeah. These guys kick some serious ass!
Murphy's Marbles (White Lion)
I have spent my fair share of St Patrick's Days in Irish bars in the US and I recognise a good Irish drinking song when I hear it. I wasn't too sure about a wet Sunday in Congleton though. Then, I arrived at The White Lion and heard Murphy's Marbles.
What they delivered was a very nice selection of traditional Celtic songs from all eras, punctuated with good-natured banter and humour, played in (as far as I could tell) an authentic style. It's not my field of expertise, by any means, but I really had a good time and enjoyed their performance an awful lot. However, for them to attempt Whiskey In The Jar (a traditional song) in the style of Thin Lizzy was brave. They pulled it off though and I thought that was one of the best parts of this year's Unplugged.
What a great way to end Congleton Unplugged 2014!
