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From humble beginnings, with inspired volunteers, sprang one of Britain’s most respected blues festivals that in 2019 will celebrate its 27th event.
Back in 1991 an unspoiled and unsuspecting Oxfordshire market town was desperate to keep their old cinema building open for events and recreational use. One Saturday morning back then 'The Regal' had hosted the local Women’s Institute market followed by a quaint little beer festival with live music. This first beer-and-live-music event was run by the local Round Table and inspired by a blues-loving immigrant (from faraway Reading) known as ‘Dancing Sailor’ John, now immortalised in the festival logo. Albeit the first event had an oompha-band, the musical seed was planted and eventually blossomed into Wallingford Blues & Beer Festival. The philosophy of the festival has always been to provide live music to local audiences with, of course, the accompaniment of beer (or was it the other way around?). Saturday afternoon in particular, which later became known as the ‘Family Session’, was designed for accompanied children to witness live music, many of whom had probably never seen real people playing real instruments. Thus the festival is free for children to attend in the hope that they will, one day, take up the reigns. The festival quickly moved in the blues direction whilst at the same time encouraging local bands to perform, many of them youngsters, and inspire them to appear live on the same billing as established national artists. After about a decade the event reached its first crisis point when the local Round Table had to pull out of what was then ‘Wallingford Beer and Blues Festival’. Things momentarily faltered. What was to become of the town’s first music festival, the inspiration behind many, many music events that had subsequently started up in the town? Well, it didn’t take much press-ganging from Sailor John to raise a crew of volunteers who have steered the ship ever since. At the same time, and in an attempt to gain more respectability (and sponsorship), the event re-branded as 'Wallingford Blues and Beer Festival' (blues first and beer second!). The new team breathed new wind into the sails and more accomplished bands came and played. With that notoriety and respect grew as an established event began to unfold. There could have been a second crisis with the sad passing of Sailor John in 2006, but this gave even more cause to continue in his memory and bands were now applying to appear! Lightening struck again in 2013 when another founder died and again there was a question over the future of the event. A firm reciting of the founding philosophy and an injection of new blood ensured continuity – this event couldn’t die it was now bigger than individuals and bigger than the town; it was becoming a blues institution, a national treasure... Progressing from a one-day event to two nights and an afternoon this festival inspired the way for arguably the biggest free festival in the country; BunkFest, hosted in the town since 2001 and a more recent newcomer Rugfest (est. 2009) both of which are huge live music family events. The latter we are now grateful to for our resurrection in 2019. During its lifespan the festival has given the proceeds of events as donations to local charities for the direct benefit of children, preferably through music projects. So, if you’re into stat.s then;
Ticket prices included free pint 'glasses', which have become collector items in their own right. Each year they have a unique logo and date printed on them. Event capacity at The Regal was 500, including an outside area and was close to the town centre, only three miles from the nearest rail station, loads of parking right next door, three camp sites in town and plenty of accommodation (if you’re early enough). If you want a reminder of Wallingford look at your 1p coin; the portcullis was taken from the town emblem when the Royal Mint was here. That was probably the last thing Wallingford was famous before, of course, the Blues and Beer Festival.., unless you count Cromwell leaving the castle in tatters after the Civil War... The evolution: 1991 Wallingford Beer Festival 1992-99 Wallingford Beer & Bands 2000-2005 Wallingford Beer & Blues Festival 2006-to date Wallingford Blues & Beer Festival |
SOME OF THE BANDS THAT HAVE PLAYED FOR US
24 Pesos Acoustic Blues Aynsley Lister Band Backbone Band - Tom Williams Bare Bones Boogie Band Beggars Belief Big Boy Bloater Big Boys Band Big Joe Louis and his Blues Kings Black and Blue Blockheads Blue Touch Blues in the Blood Bok Cadallacs Chantel McGregor Charles Walker Chill Out Mouse Clarence 'Tex' Walker Connie Lush Cry Baby and the Hoochie Coochie Boys Dave Berry and the Norman Beaker band Dave Illingworth & Graham Larkbey David Bristow David Raphael Band Distinction Failed Earl Green and the Right Time Frankie "Blues Boy" Connolly and Chilly Breeze Friday's Child G Mike S Giles Hedley and the Aviators Glass Factory Ian Briggs and the SuperVampers Ian Parker Jam session Jodie O'Callaghan John Pearson, Blues & Beyond John Walsh Band Juke Boy Barkus, Baldie McGhee and the Roof-Top Playboys Kennet Sheiks Kent Du Chane Kent Du Chane King Earle Boogie Band King King Krissy Matthews band Kyla Brox Band Larry Miller Mark Coleman Martin Trimble and Outside Help Mo'Indigo Mumbo Jumbo Oddysey of Fran / Felony of Funk Otis Grand & his Big Band Papa George Patrick Cogswell Paul Cox Paul Lamb & the King Snakes Peacetakers Perry Foster Pete Boss and the Bluehearts Pete G & the Magnitones Pint and a Half of Blues Ramblin' Minor Ray Stubbs Reconsider Rhythm Zoo Richochet Ricky Cool and the Hoola Boola Boys Robert Hokum Robert Hokum and The Guv'nors Roland Chadwick Rush-in Russ Payne and the Shark Dentists Rythym Zoo Sam Kelly's Station House Scarlett and the Hussies (Jodie) Scott Duncan Simon Winks Skin The Cat Slowburner Sonny Black Southside Blues Band Split the Riff and the Shower of Power Horns Station House Steve Roux and the Brass Knuckle Blues Band Stompin' Dave Storm Warning Stu Weetman Tensheds The Animals The Bill Sheffield Band The Blues Band The Blues Grinders The Business The Corsairs The Daniel Smith Blues Band The Eric Street Band The Guv'nors featuring Robert Hokum The Hamsters The Jason Manners Band The Micheal Roach Band The Mike Sanchez Band The Mud Morganfield Band The Music Club The PeaceTakers The Piranha Band featuring ZZ Birmingham The Ragtime Jug Orchestra The Riverside Blues Band The Roosters The Southside Blues Band The SpikeDrivers The Spooks The Stumble Thomas Ford Treble Standard Wallingford School Fun Band Winks and the Minx + guest Barney ZZ Birmingham |