Leamington arts festival ends with a bang

WHAT a unique way to close the first Leamington All Saints’ Arts Festival - a set of rhythm and blues by one of the town’s musical gems Steve Walwyn with a little help from his friends.

The church made a fantastic setting for a rock and roll show with candles all around and subtle stage lighting on the band and, as expected, the acoustics were of course first class.

The show by the Dr Feelgood lead guitarist’s local blues outfit Steve Walwyn and Friends was divided in to two sets: the first acoustic and the second electric, Steve started the first set on his own with Pistol Slapper Blues. Then one by one, introduced the other members of the band a track at a time. Other highlights in the first set included the Leadbelly track Midnight Special and the Canned Heat number Going Up the Country.

The second electric set well and truly rocked and included Sweet Home Chicago, Sell My Monkey and a real guitar show piece in the Rory Gallagher penned Bullfrog Blues.

I have now seen this band perform a few times and they really are a superb blues outfit, always playing with a smile on their faces and having a really good time, even more so at this very special performance. Many people got up to dance during the evening and the show had a very special atmosphere.

Andrew Lock