Intimate pub gig brings out the best of blues

THE Red House in Radford Road was the intimate setting for a special performance by one of Leamington’s leading musicians, Dr Feelgood and Chevy lead guitarist Steve Walwyn. The gig was arranged as a leaving party for the landlady of this popular public house who was at school with Steve.

Steve was performing a set of blues standards with members of the high quality local blues outfit The Hangover Blues Band, and they were billed as Steve Walywn and Friends.

Split into two sets with Steve on guitar and lead vocals the evening began with Mr Walwyn sat on a stool with an acoustic guitar and performing the likes of Lead Belly’s Midnight Special, before changing to the fender and then treating the packed room to an evening of full on electric blues including The Sky is Crying by Elmore James, also famously performed by Stevie Ray Vaughan.

This was an evening of blues magic with a masterclass of blues guitar (of course), Sam Powell, as ever a maestro on harmonica and Chris and Kelvin from the Hangovers all on top form.

Of the many other delights for the blues aficionados in the audience, particular standouts for me a rocking Chuck Berry’s No Particular Place To Go, the classic ‘Route 66’ and the Canned Heat gem Going up the Country.

Steve also performed his own composition Sweet Louise - an impressive soft rock and roll/blues number for the first time live, and introduced many of the evening’s numbers with anecdotes of the original performers some of which he had performed and shared bills with. There were also special guest spots including the bass player of Steve’s first ever band.

A very entertaining evening. Steve and Friends will also be performing at the Coventry Arms tonight, as well as headlining a local charity event this summer.

Verdict – Blues at its very best

Andrew Lock

Caption: Steve Walwyn and Friends performing at the Red House pub in Leamington. Picture by Andrew Lock.