The Village Club in Thornton Hough is a little gem where blues music lovers can meet once a month to help support live music and enjoy an authentic experience with live performances from like-minded blues enthusiasts. The Club hosts performances for blues artists from the local and wider area, usually on the first Friday of each month.
It was a cold, rainy, wintery, night and the
small room had a cosy intimate atmosphere, rather like being in someone’s front
sitting room The room was full without one empty seat.
Our host for the evening was Ian Boyle who introduced support act, AEthelreds Bluesmen, the house band for the Wirral Blues Club. The AEthelreds Bluesmen play a mix of original music and blues covers, and they opened with ‘Hard Headed Woman of Mine’ followed with Sonny Terry’s, ‘White Boy Lost in the Blues’ and the country blues song written by Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon, ‘Sitting On Top of the World.’ The distinctive opening chords of Spencer Davies’s ‘Gimme Some Lovin’ followed and the band was in full swing entertainment mode following up with a selection including songs such as ‘Help Me’ by Sonny Boy Williamson, ‘Black Magic Woman’ and The Who’s ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’.
The band consists of Ian Boyle (Vocal, Harmonica), Bill Hodgeson (Guitar), Robbie Cross (Keyboards), Alan Lawrence (Bass), and Terry Stirling (Drums). To see clips of their
performance at the Club, see https://youtu.be/vlGm12jQucA?si=LeogJxyiv7g0MYSz.
After a short interval Ian
introduced star guest, guitarist Mark Flanagan, who plays with the Jools Holland’s
Band, The Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. Mark was accompanied by Kevin Willoughby on
bass guitar, and George Double on drums.
Mark interspersed his performance
with stories and personal disclosures about his family and other musicians he’s
worked with. He played some songs from
his EP, Back to the Stars, co-written
with Eddie Bergin, including, ‘Hold On’, and some new songs which will feature
on his new album, ‘To Love a Child’, ‘Fishing Town’, and ‘Eddie’s Song’, a
beautiful memoir in song dedicated to his dad, merchant seaman, Edward.
Mark has played with so many musicians, too many to mention but one musician/friend he shared a memory about is Beatle, George Harrison who told Mark how much he liked his rendition of the Memphis Slim song, ‘Mother Earth’ which featured on his EP Back to the Stars, which George had among his possessions before his passing.
As Mark finished his set it was
evident no-one wanted him to finish and he performed ‘The Chosen Few’ from his
album of the same name and a beautiful rendition of ‘When Did You Leave Heaven’
from his EP, Back To The Stars.
Credit must be given to sound
technician, Neil for providing excellent sound vibes.
This was a very enjoyable evening,
and I would recommend Wirral Blues Club to anyone who enjoys the genre; host
Ian described the Club, with tongue in cheek, as “The Entertainment Centre of the Wirral” and after enjoying
such a very entertaining evening, I wouldn’t disagree with him.
The next blues night will be on
Friday 6th March featuring The Hexmen, tickets available here https://wirralblues.club/
Reviewer – Anne Pritchard
On – 7th February 2026
No comments:
Post a Comment