Maryport cements its place as the capital of blues music

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Maryport cements its place as the capital of blues music
July 31, 2009
Times and Star

MARYPORT has cemented its place as Britain’s blues capital with another weekend of huge crowds, good weather and music, music, music.
paul n tom
BLUES DELIGHT: Paul Jones on stage on Saturday night with fellow former Manfred Mann band mate Tom McGuinness

The Wave Centre, cafes, pubs, the main marquee and even a church were filled as people crowded in to hear some of the world’s finest blues artists.

More than 30,000 people crowded into the town and while the event appeared a seamless success to the audience there were moments of nail-biting terror for organisers.

Eric Burdon stepped in at the last minute to replace Taj Mahal as the Sunday night headliner, after he pulled out of all engagements for July.

But difficulties at the airport meant that nobody knew if Burdon and his band would arrive in Maryport.

They eventually arrived only 30 minutes before they were due on stage and from his energetic, crowd-thrilling performance nobody would have known the difference.

There were unexpected treats including the performance by young US singer Ryan Shaw. Not well-known in Britain, he completely blew away audiences in the marquee on Sunday.

King King, with their rocking blues style, were another huge success on Friday night.

Across the town, in The Wave Centre, in cafes and on the Calor Gas outdoor stage, local acts like South Quay, Solway Deltas and Broken Toy alongside acts that had travelled across the country performed to appreciative audiences.

Maryport police congratulated the crowd for its largely fantastic behaviour.

There were eight arrests but all for relatively minor matters, according to Maryport Inspector George Nevins.

Four people were banned from the town centre for 24 hours and there were nine calls for assistance, including for a 29-year-old Cockermouth man who fell into the dock and was rescued on Saturday night.

Insp Nevins said: “This is the third blues festival I have worked and it was certainly the busiest. Shipping Brow was crowded. But it was a fantastic weekend. Most people were very well behaved. We were delighted.”

Audiences on the trail and in the marquee were not disappointed, and nor did they disappoint the performers.

Act after act had the rousing reception that has given the festival a reputation among artists as well as those who travel from all over the United Kingdom to be here.

On Saturday, in the warm weather, Shipping Brow was packed with people enjoying the outdoor stage.

The street drinking ban was also lifted for the weekend, bringing people out of the pubs and into the sunshine.

Sunday saw slightly more damp weather but not enough to keep people in and the streets were again packed with those intent on having a good time.

People travelled from all over Britain for the event and a church service was held at The Wave Centre on Sunday afternoon by the Harbour Lights Church, featuring former Manfred Mann lead singer Paul Jones and his wife, Fiona.

The couple gave Christian testimonies as well as performing their own gospel songs to the full audience.

One of the surprises of the service was when Jones sang Do Wah Diddy and the congregation joined in.