STAR BLUES on 23rd August 2009 at 22:00

It's almost four years since Hurricane Katrina hit the New Orleans area and there are still folks in straits but are now largely forgotten. The piano blues spot on last night's STAR BLUES featured Champion Jack Dupree - one of the Crescent City's finest players - with two rambunctious tracks in the finest barrelhouse tradition. The folks in the Fens in our part of the world are right to ask how the powers-that-be would react in similar circumstances here (God forbid).

Forty years on from the Woodstock festival, so it was appropriate to remember Canned Heat and Johnny Winter who both appeared back then, though strangely at a time of US commercial popularity for the music - no other acts joined them? I was in North Norfolk on Saturday, somewhat disgracefully shaking my funky butt at a new festival venture that had Cambridge cult duo Ezio & Booga share a bill with the multi-faceted (and wonderful) Spikedrivers. A few other folks hid me from too much public ridicule by similarly shaking their own funky bits. It was great weather and a lovely setting with non-stop music from 1:30 through almost midnight and I sincerely hope the organisers will do more. Look for Southrepps on the regular blues festival scene in future.

We had some Downhome Blues from the Modern label courtesy of a collection on Ace and a smidge of Gospel from the Golden Gate Quartet - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss covered the Everly Brothers to start the show and new band Elephant Shelf closed us out with a taster of their new album. In between we did classics like "Devil With A Blue Dress" and a back-to-back on "Hoochie Coochie Man". I'm putting the finishing touches to a very special show for next weekend - Bank Holiday Sunday - that follows the last special by bringing the story of British Blues from 1969 up to date. There's also a chance to win two tickets to get some Maximum R&B at Cambridge Corn Exchange from Chris Farlowe, Maggie Bell, Alan Price and Zoot Money.

You'll need to be there at 10pm next Sunday 30th August on the Commercial Radio station of the year 2009 or on line from www.star107.co.uk. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.