The Redditch Westerners mini festival.
Unfortunately I was only able to make the Saturday shows but everyone said how they enjoyed the Thursday and Friday entertainment. I arrived at 3pm just in time to catch the end of Tony Rouse’s set . The Gambler, Guitars, Cadillacs, Good Hearted Woman, Is This The Way To Amarillo went down so well an encore was demanded and Sweet Caroline was ideal for all the crowd to join in.
Lisa’s disco filled in for the long break needed for the evening acts to set up and promptly at 5.30pm Donna Wylde bounced onto the stage and presented a lively performance which included, in her first set,
Past The Point oOf Rescue, Train Wreck and Elvis’ Don’t Be Cruel.
The Breeze were next up and what a great impression they made throughout their two sets!
Opening up with The Breeze they tore through Can’t Stop Lovin’ You, Lovin’ All Night and Till You Can’t before they paid tribute to the late Gary Perkins with Thank You.
Donna opened her second set with Mr Man In The Moon and followed with a spot on version of Girl Crush. Country Down To My Soul brought the dancers back to the floor before her encore of Ashley McBryde’s Girl Going Nowhere, a sensitive interpretation.
The Breeze included Thunder Rolls, Lay Low, The CowboyRides Away and a terrific version of Little Rock in their second set. Ryan Payling sounds great with a full band and it is noticeable how their programme has progressed since he joined them. A combination of Pretty Woman/Fast As You led to a finale of Past The Point Of Rescue when Andy, in his trademark leather trousers, took to the floor with a superb lead guitar solo.
The bands trademark Rawhide finished off the festival but the crowd wouldn’t let it end there so Tale Me Home, Country Roads as an encore rounded off a really amazing three days which had such a response that the organisers have changed their minds by announcing another mini festival in June 2024.