Acoustic/Unplugged on the Quayside - August Bank Holiday 2009

Written by Kev Adams Monday, 07 September 2009

Superb afternoons entertainment down on the Quayside.  Live acoustic/unplugged acts from 12 noon - 6pm.  All of the performers played a blinder and we had a great crowd  too.  Thank you to everyone who came down.  At the Quayside we try to create a platform for song writers and original music, something that too often seems lacking in the town.  We have some excellent music venues these days and plenty of outstanding performers.  There aren't that many which encourage original music though so hopefully we play a small part in trying to redress the balance.

The Quayside forms a perfect mini-amphitheatre with performers playing against the back drop of the River Severn.  A perfect venue with stunning views, although shamefully it's hardly ever used.

First act of the day was Andrew Murphy  - http://www.myspace.com/themusicofandrewmurphy an excellent acoustic guitarist/singer who made his Quayside debut last year and kicked off the afternoon with a brilliant set.  A technically impressive guitarist with a distinctive powerful voice.  I've seen Andrew performing over the last few years and have been really impressed to watch his playing, singing and performance mature year on year.  Always a great pleasure to catch him live.

Next up was popular local guitarist/singer Mark Riley.  Mark is well known around the town for his playing but not so well known for his own material so it's always a pleasure to see him get the chance to play his own songs.  He originally hails from Manchester and has been performing with bands or solo for over 30 years now and it shows.  Excellent performer, let's hope a few local venues caught him playing this year and give him an opportunity to perform more of his own material soon!

Well known local act The Deep Kicks - http://www.myspace.com/thedeepkicks were up next.  Rob and Keith were playing on the Quayside as a duo following their full band performance on the High Street stage the day before.  They don't need much introduction to music lovers in Bridgnorth and have played some great gigs in all sorts of combinations over the last few months.  Particularly show casing their great song writing skills - blending melodic, energetic tunes with folk, funk and sometimes blues.  Both talented guitarists and singers too and went down a storm.  If you haven't seen them play yet keep an eye out for them.

Then next up we had Shifty Sara - http://www.myspace.com/shiftyeyedsarahmusic who was the only performer on the Quayside to have played for all three events we've put on so far.  Probably the youngest performer on the Quayside too but with a confidence, voice and playing which belies her years.  We love giving her the chance to play her own material and it's hard to believe that she was only 15 when she first played here only two years ago.  Fantastic!   We wish her all the best for University and will look forward to seeing her play again when she's back in Bridgnorth.

Olugbala Kokumo -  http://www.myspace.com/olugbalakokumo got up to play next.  Originally from Antigua but now based down the road in Telford we were looking forward to something a bit different from  Olugbala and were we ever right to expect that!  Everyone played a blinder down on the Quayside but from the moment he started Olugbala lit the place up with his positivity, awesome drumming and poetry or singing.  Hard to believe one person could play three drums so skillfully and energetically while performing effortlessly over the top.  And for the most part he was improvising too.  Joined by drumming partner David for his last improvised piece the pounding bass from David's djembe gave Olugbala free reign to impress us all the more with dextrous drumming work & even more improvisation.  He better be free for next year or if he's not we hope he's got a very good excuse for not coming back ;-)

Certainly a hard act to follow but Baba (Bill Parkes) did a top job of doing just that and showed off his prowess on guitar.  An alt country/folk session guitarist who's taken some time away from performing while he started a family and ran his own business it was a real pleasure to offer him the chance to get back to playing live again.  He told us he was nervous before the start but it certainly didn't show in the performance.  Great songs, guitar work and singing.  He's certainly got a taste for it again so we hope to see him performing in the town again very soon.  Venues and promoters take note please.

Up next was another player from out of town but someone who's no stranger to performing in Bridgnorth.  The brilliant Coal Black Horses - http://www.myspace.com/coalblackhorses (Guitarist/Singer extraordinairre Tony Russell).  Tony performed with the band The Love Jones on the High Street stage last year and on the Quayside two years ago.  In fact two years ago they nearly gave our sound guy Adam a heart attack (the brilliant and almost unfazeable Adam Farnsworth http://www.sonicboomaudio.co.uk/ ).  We were expecting a couple of guitars and a vocalist and they brought along a six piece band with keyboards, two guitars, bass player, drummer and vocalist.  This year we just got Tony on his own showing off his flamenco guitar chops from the first number and like Bill before him switching guitars throughout the set to show off a flair for the instrument, several styles and some top songs.  What a natural performer too, so relaxed he looked like he was performing in his own front room.

Last band of the day we had the awesome Attic Club - http://www.myspace.com/atticclublovers , formerly known as the Vespa's.  Also past veterans (if you can say that about such a young band haha!) of the Quayside they've impressed every time they've played in the town.  A bunch of supremely talented performers and song writers who've moved away from Bridgnorth around the UK to University but who get together to perform whenever they can.  We were really chuffed to hear that we'd got them back for this year.  All singers and with some great driving, melodic songs to show off their voices and playing too.  Superb harmonies topped perfectly by Beth's awesome swooping vocals.  A fantastic performance and a fitting end to a great days entertainment.

It's the third year that we've been running an acoustic/unplugged event down there and each of the last two events have been blessed by beautiful blue skies and sunshine for most of the day.  This year organiser Janine Harley suggested that we might be better off hedging our bets and using marquees in the High St and on the Quayside.  Looking at the grey cloudy skies on both days it was a real relief to have them there just in case.  Although thankfully we didn't get any rain and our audience on the Quayside didn't have to run for cover.  Hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as we did and who know's with a bit of luck we just might be back in 2010 :-)