ASHBURTON BLUES FESTIVAL 2012
Eric Bibb
Certainly one of the greatest of living bluesmen, Eric Bibb was given his first steel-string acoustic guitar aged seven. Growing up in a musical family and surrounded by talent, he recalls a childhood conversation with Bob Dylan, who, on the subject of guitar playing, advised the 11-year-old Bibb to "Keep it simple, forget all that fancy stuff"
Aged 19, Bibb left for Paris, then Stockholm, where he immersed himself in pre-war blues and the newly-discovered world music scene, while he continued to write and perform, followed by tours of the UK, USA, Canada, France, Sweden and Germany
He has played and recorded with luminaries such as Taj Mahal, Odetta, Charlie Musselwhite, Guy Davis, Mamadou Diabate, Djelimady Toukara, and Pops and Mavis Staples
His latest album Booker's Guitar was inspired by a fan lending him Delta blues legend Booker White's 1930 National Steel guitar to play and record with.
He was so moved by the experience that on the title cut he "sounds like he's about to break down. Once he's over that, his voice is like a warm blanket wrapping you in comfortable cocoon of sound"
Eric will be accommpanied by Staffan Astner
Eric Bibb headlines on Saturday June 2
Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks is a legend, regularly selling out concerts wherever she appears.
A professional singer since she was fifteen, Brooks's debut, a cover of Etta James's "Something's Got A Hold On Me", was released in 1964. The 60's were an unsettled time for her, but Brooks supported The Beatles, helped the Small Faces in their early career and toured the United States with the Animals.
She formed Vinegar Joe with Robert Palmer gaining a reputation as the 'Wild Woman of Rock n Roll' due to her extreme stage performances. After three albums Brooks and Palmer went their own ways. Her first solo album, Rich Man's Woman released to critical acclaim. The album's cover was considered outrageous for the time.
Her career took off with 16 UK hit albums in 25 years including such hits as 'Pearl's a Singer', 'Sunshine After the Rain' 'Lilac Wine', 'Don't Cry Out Loud', came later. The Chris Rea-penned 'Fool (If You Think It's Over)' gave her another chart topper.
Brooks's success has landed her in the Guinness Book of Records as the most charted British female album artist of the last 30 years.
As one of our most iconic and exciting stage performers, she has never forsaken her blues roots.
Andy Fairweather Low
Elkie Brooks headlines on Sunday 3 June
As a founder of Amen Corner in the '60s, Andy Fairweather Low's distinctive voice helped achieve 4 Top Ten hits, including 'If Paradise Is Half As Nice'.
Going solo he hit the charts again with 'Wide Eyed And Legless' and 'Reggae Tune' The 70's saw him doing session work including with The Who, and Roy Wood.
Since then he's recorded and toured with some of the biggest names in the business:
Roger Waters, Dave Edmunds, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt.
He played guitar on George Harrison's Live in Japan, and, with the rest of Eric
Clapton's band, several lead guitar parts for the Harrison tribute The Concert for George, on some songs playing Harrison's famous Fender Stratocaster 'Rocky'.
In 2001, Fairweather Low accompanied Eric Clapton on his world tour and is featured on the 2002 album One More Car, One More Rider, and on From Clarksdale To Heaven - Remembering John Lee Hooker with, amongst others, Jeff Beck, Gary Brooker, Jack Bruce and Peter Green
He's toured extensively with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings and joined Clapton's band for a series of 11 concerts held at the London's Royal Albert Hall, later becoming part of Clapton's touring band. Andy will be backed by his band The Low Riders
Andy Fairweather Low headlines on Friday June 1
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