Spydafest 2004 Portland (UK) 25 -27 June

Subject: Spydafest 2004 Portland (UK) 25 -27 June
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 12:41 PM

This is a new festival.

http://www.spydalive.com/spydafest/index.html

Subject: RE: Spydafest 2004 Portland (UK) 25 -27 June
From: The Shambles
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 01:10 PM

This is not a folk festival but the following Press Releases will show that the organisers are not too sure what sort of festival it will turn out to be.

Blues Fans Flock to Portland for SpydaFest June 25-27

Lovers of good blues music will find themselves well catered for at an ambitious new festival in Dorset this summer. Some of the proceeds from the event will go to support The Big Issue in their valuable work fighting homelessness, a major issue in South Dorset as property prices continue to rise.

Set against the spectacular backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Coast, Spydafest artists will travel to Portland from the USA, Canada, Australia, Holland, Ireland and Brasil to mention a few. The event has a strong flavour of American roots music, with some cracking blues acts on the bill, just check out a few of the highlights:

Michael Messer & The Second Mind Band (href=www.michaelmesser.co.uk

Acoustic slide guru Michael Messer has been at the top of the scene for many years now. His latest recording "Second Mind" was awarded "Best Blues Album 2003" by the International Guitar Federation. One of the true visionaries of the blues, Michael is capable of playing delta classics with absolute authenticity but also uses radical DJ samples and loops in his work, very much blues for the 21st century! Michael will be making a rare appearance with his full band on the Friday night at Portland. Michael has just recorded a live session for BBC Radio 2's Paul Jones show and has busy summer ahead, including performances at WOMAD and shows with Taj Mahal and Dr John. Michael will also be hosting a slide guitar masterclass on the Saturday morning and will be sitting in as guest with dobro ensemble National Debt later that day too.

BarrelHouse Blues Orchestra a href=www.barrelhouse.info

Staking their claim as "The biggest blues band in the world", this 22-piece outfit have a huge presence in a live setting. Featuring Johnny Mars blowing harp, the Barrelhouse have been getting huge attention in recent months. They are about to release a version of the 'Stones classic single "Jumping Jack Flash" 36 years to the day after the original, and also featuring ex-Rolling Stone Mick Taylor. Pre-sales suggest that the single will chart in the top 40. Their album " On My Mind" is a slick collection of funky material and the band will surely rock the island when they bring proceedings to a close on Friday evening.

JP LeBlanc a href=www.jpleblanc.ca

A mere 18 year old from French Quebec, JP has been leaving blues fans and guitar players alike speechless right across the USA and Canada for the last few years. His technical ability has already grabbed the attention of the global guitar circuit, he has been tipped as the next Stevie Ray Vaughan. Major agencies have snapped him up on both sides of the Atlantic, confident in a dazzling future. But that's not all, JP is fast emerging as an accomplished songwriter too! A meeting with BB King at the age of 16 inspired JP to pen some material of his own which has evolved into the collection of blistering blues rock entitled "Take Me Back". JP LeBlanc makes his UK debut at SpydaFest on Sunday afternoon, which promises to be a wake up call not to be missed!

Tickets for SpydaFest are available from Weymouth's Pavilion Theatre Box Office on 01305 783225

Subject: RE: Spydafest 2004 Portland (UK) 25 -27 June
From: The Shambles
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 01:16 PM

AND

Music fans who missed out on tickets for Glastonbury this year fear not! The Big Issue are backing an ambitious new festival on the same weekend, located on the rugged Isle of Portland on the Dorset coast. Spydafest is the brainchild of leading internet station SpydaRadio, London's award winning venue The Borderline and eclectic roots agency Mutiny Music. The Big Issue will receive 10% of ticket revenue to support their excellent work fighting homelessness.

SpydaRadio have also just released a double compilation CD featuring a wide range of artists, and the magazine will also get 10% of profits from CD sales. Arrangements are being made for the magazine's founder John Bird to visit the area and meet local MPs and housing managers to discuss homelessness issues specific to the local market.

Musically "Spydagoers" can expect a diverse range of quality acts ranging from singer-songwriters to country rock legends and funky world music. Over 40 acts will appear on two stages across the weekend, with performers from the USA, Canada, Holland, Ireland, The UK and Brazil all flocking to the Island. Highlights include swamp rock legend Tony Joe White, Dazzling bluegrass virtuosos The Hot Club of Cowtown and Dorset's own chartbuster Gordon Haskell.

Beyond that there will be a full range of family entertainment, local band showcases, workshops, open mike stages, traders, food concessions and of course a licensed bar. The site is located on open grassland overlooking the famous Portland Bill lighthouse, Pulpit Rock and Lyme Bay, recently given UNESCO World Heritage Status. This has to be the most spectacular location for a music festival in the UK. Event organisers have also put together an extensive programme of workshops for the local schools and members of Portland's unique community.

Tickets are available from Weymouth's Pavilion box office on 01305 783225. Prices start at £45 for the full weekend and represent excellent value. Full details are available from the website address www.spydafest.com