With all three days being headlined by internationally-known Blues artists, Virgil & The Accelerators, The Motives and Northsyde, festival director Jason Elliott is delighted with the programme and the way this year's event has built on previous successes.

Paul Lamb and the Detroit Breakdown - photo: Craig Shaw

"Having won our category in the British Blues Awards for the last two years has helped us attract some amazing talent to our little town. There are some world class musicians coming to to entertain us, from places as diverse as Texas, Detroit, Canada and Switzerland as well as all over Britain."

"We have stuck to a policy of only inviting who we feel are the cream of contemporary Blues music, people who are writing and recording new material, moving the genre forward, and it does seem to have gone down well," he said.

"There is something special about Hebden Bridge the town for people too. It's not just the music. Everything is within walking distance and the wide variety of independent shops is real treat for our visitors from clone-towns elsewhere," he added.

As well as the increased number of acts playing, new for this year are extra free gigs during the daytime for the locals, an open Blues jam session for the public, a free Blues ukelele workshop with maestro Manitoba Hall at the Town Hall, as well as a dedicated camping area for tents in the park being run by the Hebden Bridge Round Table.

Red Dirt Skinners - photo: Guy Winne

The primary venues are the same as last year. The recently refurbished Hope Baptist Church will host the main stage in the evening, and Salem Mill will house an acoustic stage and an electric stage for events during the day.

The number of external venues hosting free admission "Juke Joint" gigs has increased however, as has the their range of performance times to increase accessibility and choice. This year, the Old Gate, the White Swan, the Crown Inn, Marshall's Bar, the Pennine Club, The Vine and Muse Music are all hosting acts.

In addition, the main stage will also have free admission during Saturday and Sunday daytimes where both Outlaw PR and JHS music will each be putting on three bands.

"It's great the way local businesses have got involved to help bring free gigs to the locals. Residents logically assume and expect that lots of things will be available at no cost during any kind of festival so, as we are completely self-funding, we are very grateful that the local venues are on board with the project," commented Jason. "We are also very appreciative of the support that both the Round Table and Calderdale Council have shown this year in arranging camping facilities. Having an area of the park usable to counteract the shortage of local accommodation will make a considerable difference to the local economy too, whilst leaving most of the park completely unaffected," he added.

For more information about the Hebden Bridge Blues Festival, including bands, venues, tickets and timings, see www.hebdenblues.co.uk

Events, venues and times

Friday May 23rd

3.00pm - Manitoba Hal - Muse Music, Market Street
4.00pm - Manitoba Hal - Blues Ukelele Workshop, Town Hall
7.00pm - Doors Open Main Stage*
7.45pm - Julian Burdock - Main Stage*
8.30pm - David Migden & The Twisted Roots - Main Stage*
9.00pm - Private Dicks - Old Gate
9.00pm - Alex McKown - Crown Inn
9.00pm - Jed Thomas - Marshall's Bar
9.00pm - The Rainey Street Band - The Vine
9.00pm - Mad Jack & The Hatters - The White Swan
9.30pm - DJ Dave Raven (Raven and Blues) - Main Stage*
10.00pm - Virgil & The Accelerators - Main Stage*
11.30pm - DJ Les Young (Wall to Wall Blues) - Main Stage*
Midnight - The Paddy Maguire Midnight Jam Sessions with the Hebden Allstars*
1.30am - Finish

Saturday May 24th

12 Noon - The Mustangs - Salem Electric Stage*
1.00pm - Dan Burnett - Salem Acoustic Stage*
1.00pm - Forty4 - Outlaw Stage (at the Main Stage)
2.00pm - Katie Bradley - Salem Electric Stage*
2.30pm - Bare Bones Boogie Band - Outlaw Stage (at the Main Stage)
3.00pm - Angelo Palladino - Salem Acoustic Stage*
3.00pm - Trevor Sewell (solo) - The Pennine Club
3.00pm - Open Blues Jam for all playing public - Marshalls Bar
4.00pm - Zoe Schwarz & Blue Commotion - Salem Electric Stage*
4.00pm - Makuini & The Hoodoo Men - Outlaw Stage (at the Main Stage)
4.30pm - Flock of 3 - Old Gate Bar & Restaurant
5.00pm - Dave Arcari - Salem Acoustic Stage*
6.00pm - Nat Martin Band - Salem Electric Stage*
7.15pm - Blues Boy Kings - Main Stage*
8.30pm - Paul Lamb & The Detroit Breakdown - Main Stage*
9.00pm - Little Devils - Old Gate Bar & Restaurant
9.00pm - Killer Bees - Crown Inn
9.00pm - Clare Free (acoustic) - The Vine
9.00pm - The Hexmen - The White Swan
9.00pm - Greasy Slicks - Marshalls Bar
10.00pm - The Motives feat. Matt Taylor - Main Stage*
11.30pm - DJ Dave Watkins - Main Stage*
Midnight - The Paddy Maguire Midnight Jam Sessions with the Hebden Allstars*
1.30am - Finish

Sunday May 25th

12 Noon - Richard Townend - Salem Acoustic Stage*
1.00pm - Half Deaf Clatch - Salem Acoustic Stage*
1.00pm - Tom Killner Band - JHS Stage (at the Main Stage)
2.00pm - Tom Attah & The Bad Man Clan - Salem Electric Stage*
2.30pm - Gav Coulson Band - JHS Stage (at the Main Stage)
3.00pm - Red Dirt Skinners - Salem Acoustic Stage*
3.00pm - Gary Grainger - The Pennine Club
3.30pm - The Terry Logan Band - Crown Inn
4.00pm - Marcus Lazarus Band - Salem Electric Stage*
4.00pm - Hannah Rickard & The Relatives - JHS Stage (at the Main Stage)
4.30pm - The Revelator Band - Old Gate Bar & Restaurant
5.00pm - Dove and Boweevil - Salem Acoustic Stage*
6.00pm - Tim Hood - Salem Electric Stage*
7.30pm - Gwyn Ashton - Main Stage*
8.30pm - Mark Pontin Group - Main Stage*
9.00pm - Tom Gee Band - Old Gate Bar & Restaurant
9.00pm - Lewis Hamilton - Crown Inn
9.00pm - Bonnie Mac Band - The White Swan
9.45pm - Russ Tippins Electric Band - Main Stage*
11.00pm - Northsyde - Main Stage*
Midnight - The Paddy Maguire Midnight Jam Sessions with the Hebden Allstars*

* Entrance with wristband only

 

Previous HebWeb coverage of the Hebden Bridge Blues Festivals