Aberdeen’s West End comes alive to the sound of blues music on Sunday, March 22 between 2.30 and 5.30pm as the West End Blues Trail comes to town.
Sponsored by Aberdeen Inspired, the Trail covers every shade of blue from the sounds of the delta to driving electric blues. With a Rover Ticket, audiences can sample a range of attractive, informal and intimate venues.
The programme features
Dixie Fried - Deep down and dirty Mississippi Blues Rock from guitarist/vocalist Craig Lamie and drummer John Murphy. A simple back porch approach to Delta blues, some dirty slide guitar and a dose of rock rhythms.
Gerry Jablonski Electric Band – The classy international globetrotters deliver high-octane blues-rock. One of the tightest and hardest hitting bands on the current scene.
Gus Munro - Great vocalist and guitarist crossing classic acoustic blues with hard edged singer songwriter
Toby Mottershead - A tour of early blues and roots music from guitarist Toby Mottershead bringing the sounds of the Delta and the Hill Country; the jug bands and juke joints back to life.
Jed Potts & The Hillman Hunters - Three piece electric band playing blues inspired by 50s and 60s American classics, led by one of the most popular guitarists/vocalists in the country: Freddie King ballads to hypnotic Muddy Waters grooves.
Nicole Smit - Charismatic and captivating, Nicole Smit’s blues-drenched voice ranges from blues and r’n’b to soul.
The music is as diverse as the venues with intimate bars, sophisticated restaurants and nightclubs all featured including Glentannar Wee Glen Bar, McGinty’s Meal An’ Ale, Shack and the secret bar at Vovem, 21 Crimes.
The West End Blues Trail is sponsored by Aberdeen Inspired, Creative Scotland, Aberdeen City Council and hosting venues.
Keith MacRae from Jazz Scotland, said: “We had a great response to our recent Belmont Street Blues afternoon and are thrilled by the programme that is on offer this year. We want to encourage people to explore the West End and to enjoy a perfect afternoon listening to blues”.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “The West End Blues Trail is a perfect attraction for jazz and music lovers, there are sounds for everyone to enjoy in some of Aberdeen’s best venues. This is a great way to experience the city entirely differently by roaming the trail and checking out the performers.
“We at Aberdeen Inspired are thrilled to be supporting Aberdeen Jazz Festival once again and proud to have been involved in the festival’s development into one of Scotland’s major jazz events. We encourage everyone to come along and listen to the fantastic acts and also enjoy the wider offering in the city centre, with a great retail, hotel and wider hospitality offering making it the perfect opportunity to make a weekend of it.”
For details about the full West End Blues Trail programme, visit www.aberdeenjazzfestival.com.
Gerry Jablonski