First festival report

Oh, what a night

• Late December, back in '63
• What a very special time for me
• As I remember, what a night
• Oh, what a night

Well, it certainly seemed like December outside, but inside, oh yes inside was a different story, the 2013 13th Audlem Music and Arts Festival kicked off in style. 8.00pm on the dot.

Nikki Rous

Nikki Rous got the Thursday night at the Lord Combermere off in her own unique style, an opening performance to set the stage for the rest of the weekend. Nikki's voice and strong guitar playing add a dimension to her covers that make them hers, but, oh, listen to 'Mirror' and you can tell that this is one gifted songwriter.

Poetry Slam

Talking of gifted, 8.00pm heralded the time of the Poets, and what a superb array of talent providing everything from deep and dark, thought provoking and moving to humorous and on every subject from the moon to legs. This is only Audlem Festival's second Poetry Slam, but what a great draw it is becoming with 14 very talented poets taking part.

Emma Purshouse really fetches the night alive and the audience participation, which might I add also included a pantomime, is second to none with their voteometer! Winner Rod Tame just pipped our own Jessie of Audlem for the £50.00 prize money, but more importantly, the trophy!

Alex Hulme

So, on to the Shroppie Fly at 9.00pm for one of Audlems favourite acts, Alex Hulme. In only his socks he nigh on blew them off, with his toes dancing over his looper he created a huge sound from one voice and one guitar, delivering his own rhythm section of drum and bass, and a bit of the lead guitar in the mix, he delivered a full on performance that had the audience spellbound.

Blue Boys Dan

Blues Boy Dan, what can you write about this talented Blues player that has already not been written this year. Dan Owen from down the road in Shrewsbury, yes, that's the one, you may have been one of the 'handful' that presenter Sophie Raworth referred to when she interviewed him on the Andrew Marr Show last week, who has already seen him play.

Well, one of the handful that viewed his online YouTube performances was the one and only Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, so you are in good company. Grammy Award winning producer, Vance Powell, who Dan just happened to be recording with, took Dan to legend Willy Nelson's 80th birthday bash. Fitting that Dan finished his set last night with 'Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.' Oh What a night.

Bring on the rest.

Ian Haughey

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