The blues is not generally associated with glamour.
And Phuket is not typically associated with good music.
In fact, with any music at all
Maybe that's why islanders got rather excited when they heard of a blues festival last weekend.
The venue was really grand.
I had been at the Arcadia Hilton for an ICT convention earlier this year, and I was rather stunned.
Somehow this time round the place seemed to exceed the general expectation of location for a blues gig, but hay, this is Thailand. Nothing is too grand in this country.
The organizers later explained that in order to attract international level audience and sponsors they needed grandeur, and that’s what they got.
I reached the place riding my scooter and was greeted at the gates by guards who inspected my every inch before politely admitting me in (nice to get attention, I am definitely coming back tomorrow for more).
Once in, there were more uniformed guards scattered all over the entrance who greeted me to make sure I knew that they were friendly, and they were just there to make sure I had a safe good time (would that mean no drugs?) and ushered me into the ballroom where some people were playing the rocknroll.
Is this the Phuket blues, I thought? Apparently so.
I missed a couple of hot gigs, did not manage to be there at the start, but at least now I know the name of a band I should try to get hold of, next time I go to Bangkok, the Blue on Blue.
To date, we have not been able to locate a web page for them though.
Then Big Fat Blues Band took stage, followed by Big Jeff and the Soi Dog Blues Band who made the local news thanks to ' razor sharp riffs over precision bass.' (Phuket Gazette)
It was blues legend Victor Brox to contribute the first bit of truly international caliber music to the already excellent gig. If Victor was king that night daughter Kayla was the Qeen. The only girl to hold stage among a bunch of blues boys, Kayla’s voice was powerful and smooth, and ther technique impeccable.
The second night of the event we enjoyed the Groove Doctors and Cannonball, both Thailand based blues bands
Kyla Brox supported by Danny Blomeley at the guitar, was followed by an explosive, inspired and truly cool Rich Harper Band
I really felt like I wanted to throw myself at Rich feet, but I just gave him a hug instead

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