Many thanks to music lover, Roger Regular for sending in this review of last weeks Bluesroom event at The Venue in Ryde. Sounds like a superb night. Don’t forget the Amen Boogie Blues Band will be playing in Ventnor in March. Ed
After seeing Ian Siegal twice before on the Island, once supporting the son of Muddy Waters – Big Bill Morganfield, and once at the first bluesroom event (thanks to Amen Promotions) I eagerly awaited this event for some time, but soon came the evening of the 1st February, and myself, along with the other 350+ blues lovers, were not disappointed.
The Venue, Ryde Theatre, had the air of a real blues club with candle-lit cabaret style seating, striking projected ‘bluesroom’ backdrop and an air of excited anticipation from the warm and friendly audience.
Drummer Nikolaj Bjerre started their set with a Bo Diddley-style groove, shortly followed on stage by Andy Graham, bass guitarist, before Ian Siegal swaggered onto the stage like the big blues artist he is, launching into ‘Ride On Josephine’.
Ian played one set lasting nearly two hours. This amazing set included songs from his ‘Meat and Potatoes’ album and of course his new album, ‘Swagger’. Ian even confessed to and included a song he wrote on the ferry from Portsmouth.
Included in his set was a medley of hits, with every song effortlessly linked, that included John Lee Hooker’s Ground Hog Blues, Elizabeth Cotton’s Freight Train and his own homage to the king of blues Muddy Waters with Mortal Coil Shuffle.
My particular favourite was the brilliant version of Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Chile, which I found myself clapping and cheering to at the end. After leaving everyone in a state of blues frenzy and wanting more, Ian came on and completed his set with a country feel.
This man is a blues sensation and I still can’t believe that a blues star of this calibre has graced our shores, a big thank you to Amen Promotions for pulling this off.
The evening kicked off with a well delivered set of Chicago-style blues from top Island act The Amen Boogie Bluesband. They included songs from such bluesmen as Muddy Waters, Peter Green, Elmore James and Son House, plus some material of their own which had the dance floor filling up nicely.
I spoke to Ian after the gig, who said he would love to come again; the crowd are fantastic and friendly.
Roger Regular
