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Midwinterfest 2019 - Day 3 - Alan West, Steve Black, Adam Sweet, Mick Harding - The Sunday Session

Midwinterfest 2019 - Day 3 - Alan West, Steve Black, Adam Sweet, Mick Harding - The Sunday Session

The Sunday Morning session always has a different vibe to the rest of the weekend, there's a mixture of looking back over the previous two days comparing personal high spots with fellow fans and artists alike, mixed with the tinge of regret that the event is once again drawing to a close and the thought of the long journey home. This year quite possibly the most diverse yet in terms of the types of music covered has been an unqualified success. As we enter the final session

Midwinterfest Day 3 - The Return Of The Lowly Strung!

Midwinterfest Day 3 - The Return Of The Lowly Strung!

The early morning "Wakey Wakey!" slot this year gave a chance for the Lowly Strung to bring a little bit of Godliness to the proceedings as well as a chance to perform with their microphone facing in the right direction. Opening the set guitarist Toby Starks showed an almost soulful vocal on Bob Dylans "Ring Them Bells" a well chosen cover, which showcased the bands musicianship to great effect when they came in on the second verse. The set as they were to mention themsel

Midwinterfest 2019 - Alan West, Steve Black, Adam Sweet - The Saturday Session

Midwinterfest 2019 - Alan West, Steve Black, Adam Sweet - The Saturday Session

For their second performance of the weekend Alan Steve and Adam were relegated to the floor such was the demand for space on the stage from the two acts appearing later in the evening – even Mick was returned to his position at the sound desk. Alan opened up the evening session with “Catfish John” with Steve providing backing vocals on the song originally sung by Johnny Russell. The next choice was a request from Wayne Lee who’s father Albert had played on the original versi

Midwinterfest 2019 - The Songwriters Round with Steve Black, Danni Nicholls & Jefferson Ross

Midwinterfest 2019 - The Songwriters Round with Steve Black, Danni Nicholls & Jefferson Ross

The Songwriters Round as mentioned in our preview is always one of the highlights the weekend, the chance ti get up close and personal with performers as they give a little of the background behind their songs. Sat on the left of the stage porting a trusty flat cap, is someone we have only recently discovered Jefferson Ross, in the middle of the stage the wonderful Danni Nicholls while to the far right and curating the afternoon was superior song smith Steve Black. This year

Midwinterfest 2019 - Adam Sweet Band

Midwinterfest 2019 - Adam Sweet Band

Adam Sweet and his band injected the first bit of real volume into the Friday night with a set of Blues rock supported with Garry Kroll on drums and Paddy Blight on bass.. Opening with a couple of songs from “Small Town Thinking”, “The Best Thing She Ever Had”. and “At Times Like This” for the second song, a slightly slower blues, Adam’s face was often contorted as he squeezed every ounce of sound from his guitar. Last year Adam released an excellent acoustic EP, "Take Your

Midwinterfest 2019 - Alan West, Steve Black Adam Sweet - The Friday Session

Midwinterfest 2019 - Alan West, Steve Black Adam Sweet - The Friday Session

Midwinterfest as ever remains the first major festival of the year, and as ever it will almost certainly live up to its motto “It’s all about the music”. Equally as ever, large numbers of people book in advance, not necessarily knowing who will appear but safe in the knowledge that they will have a weekend of superb diverse entertainment. They will be wined, dined and royally entertained. Our hosts also remain the same Alan West, with his deep voice, a master singer and inter

Midwinterfest Songwriters Preview - Steve Black, Jefferson Ross, Danni Nicholls

Midwinterfest Songwriters Preview - Steve Black, Jefferson Ross, Danni Nicholls

Midwinterfest over the course of its weekend always provides many highlights and Saturday afternoon, the Songwriters Round is always a special section of the weekend. Hosted each year by Steve Black who will undoubtedly play something new as well as ending the show with the whole hall in a spontaneous singalong.. Steve's songs are always rich in detail and to be able to hear the inspiration as to how they have come into being is always a welcome treat. The Songwriters Round p

Midwinterfest Day 3 - The Fond Farewell - Alan West, Steve Black, Adam Sweet, Justin Johnson, Jasmin

Midwinterfest Day 3 - The Fond Farewell - Alan West, Steve Black, Adam Sweet, Justin Johnson, Jasmin

It never ceases to amaze, that many who have watched every note at the festival being played well into the early hours and who have have long journeys home ahead of them are all in place for their final Midwinterfest fix,. The “Sunday Morning Soiree” as Alan calls it began with just Steve and Adam, with Adam taking the lead vocals on the bluesy romp “Sweet Little Thing” designed to shake out any morning cobwebs, after all not many of us attend gigs at 11:30 after watching the

Midwinterfest 2018 Day 2 - The Evening - Alan West & Steve Black, The Haley Sisters, Journey Hom

Midwinterfest 2018 Day 2 - The Evening - Alan West & Steve Black, The Haley Sisters, Journey Hom

The Saturday evening session opened with Alan singing “He Ain't Foolin Me” from All Things For All Reason”, with Adam ( now with his own customised drink holder) providing a suitably effective solo.Steve took over lead vocals for the next song “Down But I’m Not Out” with Adam once again providing inspirational flourishes. Vocal duties for “Bobby’s Idle Hour” traditionally an Alan song started with Steve, though for verse two and indeed the rest of the song normality was rest

Midwinterfest 2018 Day 1 - Alan West, Steve Black, Adam Sweet, The Black Feathers, Ags Connolly &amp

Midwinterfest 2018 Day 1 - Alan West, Steve Black, Adam Sweet, The Black Feathers, Ags Connolly &amp

The traditional curtain raiser to any New Year is the annual gathering of the great and the good at Torquay for Midwinterfest. As ever a lot of the attendees will have booked their places almost the moment the last note of last years festival completed, long before the final list of acts was announced safe in the knowledge that whoever turned up was likely to be good. The job of guiding us through the festival once again fell to our hosts Alan West and Steve Black who aided a

Minwinterfest 2018 Songwriters Round - Joe Martin, Hattie Briggs, Steve Black

Minwinterfest 2018 Songwriters Round - Joe Martin, Hattie Briggs, Steve Black

The songwriters round is always one of the highly anticipated slots of the Midwinterfest weekend as we get to see song writing in its most intimate purest form. This years selection already had the look of being a classic before a note was even strummed as joining Steve Black would be two of the hottest talents around, Joe Martin who’s recent appearances in London and recent releases have caused quite a stir, and Hattie Briggs hot of the back or releasing an EP or full length

W21Music's Guide to an Americana Christmas!

W21Music's Guide to an Americana Christmas!

With Christmas nearly upon us, there comes a time when you have to put away your normal country, folk and Americana records and listen to some more traditional fare. However maybe this year need not be all Slade and Band Aid and with some judicious searching your home can still be treated to a bit of Christmas counbtry! There is stuff here for every type of Christmas so grab a mince pie and see if something takes your fancy. Assuming you wanted to compile you own carol servi

Alan West / Steve Black, Shaky Ground Live at Jagz Ascot

Alan West / Steve Black, Shaky Ground Live at Jagz Ascot

Ascot on race day, after the last nag has cantered home is something of a spectacle. The sight of office workers once dressed to the nines, now one over the eight, looking distinctly at sixes and sevens as a shoe is discarded here, a tie there and a fascinator somewhat askew from its original fixing. Many have staggered to Jagz and are enjoying their post race drinks with some gusto, as they throw shapes on the dance floor, with every embarrassing bit of dad dancing captured

Midwinterfest 2017

Midwinterfest 2017

Friday Overnight predictions of snowbound chaos proved to be unfounded as #Team W21 once again upped sticks and headed for Torquay for the years first major gathering of talent. Last year, the line-up was already pretty much familiar faces to us but this year was to be a voyage into the unknown for some of these names – fortunately it was to prove a pleasant trip! Midwinterfest 2017 perhaps buoyed by the success of 2016 was set to be the biggest yet with an extra 60 people ga

Steve Black – Right Here and Now

Steve Black – Right Here and Now

The latest offering from Steve Black is the culmination of over 12 months of writing and trying out songs. The results of this striving being 10 slices of prime storytelling. As ever with a Steve Black record you’ll laugh, you’ll cry and at times you’ll just get lost in the world he has created around you. The opening song “Driving” inspired by the many miles travelled by Steve and his partner in crime Alan West as they travel the country winning converts as the go. Who could