Been building up to the Avoine Blues Festival all week which in fact started last night. Cinéma Rabelais Chinon got an early lead from hosting a free showing of Alan Parker's The Commitments. The band were the headline act for the opening night of the festival. We couldn't remember when the film was made. Turned out to be 1991. Terrific movie, terrific music. French subtitles.Grabbed supper afterwards just down from the cinema -outside at Café des Arts. Fortunately we were undercover, as the heavens suddenly opened and treated us to yet another hefty dousing.
Avoine Blues Festival (ABF) has been been going since 1999, although we only got to know about it in the last five years. We haven't always been in France at the right time, so made it only once when Status Quo were the headline act. It was one of those decisions to go, based on they've been around for ages, might not be going for that much longer, probably past their best, but let's do it. They were simply amazing. The chapiteau - the really big tent and main space (not 02 scale however) - was jammed with people and they were leaping. The festival runs for four days, Thursday to Sunday. S.Q. were playing the final gig on the Sunday evening, which always starts at the rather odd time (at least for the UK) of 6pm. Status Quo were fabulous, totally exhilarating and it was entirely due to that experience that this year, now that we're around, we decided to go again. We got a pass each for the whole four days. Doing it that way and in advance, the tickets became silly money of E17 a pop rather than E35 on the door.
So off we went last night. ABF has a reputation, so expectations were high. It's very well sponsored and by some high profile companies, but even so it feels like a friendly community festival. Well organised with a stream of volunteers to run the bars; a few kiosks selling paraphernalia. Half the main site is free admission, with a smaller stage area scène Rest'O Blues, again covered, and where the free gigs are played. The festival kicks off from there and this year, with Little Bob Blues Bastards. We'd seen him/them before at Café Français in Chinon. They've also played at Le Temps des Crises, where we were the other night. Fantastic band live. Can't find a decent youtube link that does them justice. Little Bob is a pint sized dynamo - born 1945. Real name Roberto Piazza, a native of Havre, although his father was an anarchist from Northern Italy during Mussolini's time. The music is French rock, inspired by blues, rhythmn 'n' blues and British rock of the 60s. The musicians in the band are from different musical backgrounds - jazz, rock & blues. Unsurprisingly Little Bob's fan club is considerable. It was a superb 2 hour set, which really set the mood and upped the expectations for the paid bands coming afterwards in Le Chapiteau.
There were two gigs scheduled. A tribute to Alan Jack followed by The Commitments. Alan Jack. Difficult to find a lot of info about him. But it was evident last night, that he was highly thought of. Late 60s band who daringly for the time, sang a lot in English. Seemingly influenced by Fleetwood Mac, Ten Years After, Chicken Shack and Savoy Brown. There was a recently compiled film about him, and some of those interviewed played last night. They were fronted by one of the backing singers. One of those weird moments when something from the past is recreated, but without the original creative and charismatic personality to lead it. So it doesn't achieve anything. Only really started coming together towards the end, by which time we were getting desperate and looking for a window to escape through, except there wasn't one. Finally it finished, 30 mins late, so the techies reorganised the stage and at last The Commitments arrived. Only this lot were a Tribute band not the real thing, there were one or two from the original band. Having just seen the film and hearing some great soul tracks, the Avoine version of The Commitments just didn't measure up. Soul has got to come from the heart. If it's purely mechanical, it just fizzles out, like last night.
Tonight however is another night. At least we hope so.
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