Blues, Beer and Bourbon
The newly revamped Purple Turtle, Gun Street in Reading, have teamed up with the brand new London Blues Festival, as the capital wide festival of the blues, pops out of the big smoke to host a 2 day mini festival in the Reading town centre venue in the hope of finding some hot local Berkshire blues talent.
With an eye on Reading’s fine heritage, the Festival will be reincarnating with a twist the famous 3’B’s (normally biscuits, beer and bulbs) with an added deep southern kick changing to Blues, Bourbon and keeping the Beer!
The Festival, billed as the Past, Present and Future of the Blues, features a unique combination of blues styles and modern blues influenced music, so expect a grand variety.
“Its great to work with the London Blues Festival on this search for hidden blues talent, and for a free entry festival, it’s looking pretty awesome. Since the revamp, we’ve brought in more variety to our drinks, entertainment and now street food selections for a broader group across Reading, and the Blues Festival really hits that home”- Jack Hepplewhite
The bill, consisting of a mix of local, nation and international artists, already includes a bill featuring local artists, TARA, Poor Michael, La Trappistine, Jakabo, 3 Buck Shirt, Johnny Marvel’s Groove Blues, Martin Wood and his Rag and Moan Men, John Cee Stannard, Ben Cox Smith, Jim Donovan, John Drain & Marco Farris and Jack Hollywood playing a listen- ing set to the famous Alan Lomax’s Field Recordings.
International talent comes from one man blues explosion, Canadian born Son of Dave. If you haven’t heard of Son of Dave (ex Crash Test Dummies Drummer), then you would have, but just don’t know about it. His brand of stomping harmonica blues is something to be seen.
Top national talent comes from the returning Radio 2 faves Tom Mansi & The Icebreakers, Steel Guitar legend Eddie Martin, London’s Laine Hines and Sunday headliners, The Future Shape of Sound.
The festival will run from 12, midday until the early hours on both Friday the 24th May and Sunday the 25th May across the Bank Holiday weekend.
Other delights include a street food market, featuring Camden’s gourmet marketeers Cowboy Cottage Pie, with their American inspired take on an British classic (bourbon spiced Cottage Pie!) and Lou in her wood hut, serving Louisiana and deep south inspired gourmet burgers and dogs.
If this wasn’t enough, the 2 day event will also feature a craft beer and lager festival, bringing in an extra 30 plus craft beers from the local area and a bourbon festival bringing an astonishing array of bourbons for you to taste…watch out for free tasters sessions held with the local brewers along the day also.
For full line up, details on the street food, artist information, information on the beers and the bourbons please see the website and Facebook links.
WEBSITE: www.londonbluesfestival.co.uk
VENUE: Purple Turtle, Gun Street, Reading, RG1 2JR
TICKETS: Free Entry!
