Going along this evening to this award winning Solid Entertainments St Patrick’s Day Tuesday Blues Night, featuring Eric Bell Band, Jim Kirkpatrick Band and Big River, was like sampling more than one musical shot of good ol’ Irish Whiskey! I love the Irish and the magic Emerald Isle, given I grew up with them in my childhood street. Indeed, the neighbours loved my late father so much that they all turned out for his funeral and then arranged for a special Mass in his memory! So I was more than up to see this special gig.

Formed in 2015 and well known for their sound influenced by Bad Company and Free, UK Blues Rock band Big River were on first. They are a multidimensional, entertaining, energetic quintet, with frontman Adam Barron commanding the long stage, his bandmates and audience with ease on vocals and eclectic ukulele. Complemented by the familiar raw energy, riffs and macho tattooed guitar style of Damo Fawsett, as well as the band counterpoint and grounded Simon Gardiner on assured, cool bass, it was also a delight to see Becky Scott for the first time on drums, who joined last year. Indeed, I’ve such respect for female drummers, given my late, great Auntie Denise was one, and Becky is certainly one emerging female drummer to watch out for.

Drawing from under their Big River belt, namely their 2019 album 'Redemption' plus their EP 'Beautiful Trauma', as well as some covers, the audience were treated to a mouthwatering opening mix. Kicking off with 'Hometown Hustler', 'The Long Way' and 'Don’t Hold Out', there set moved on to 'Devil’s Whiskey', which I loved, as I did 'Beautiful Trauma', before they closed out with 'Going Down' plus an unusual Rock version of Stevie Wonder’s 'Higher Ground'. Tonight Big River delivered their set with gusto, and one that would be more than welcome at any gig or festival!

Next up was the Jim Kirkpatrick Band. Dubbed no less by our friends at Blues Matters as England’s equivalent to Joe Bonamassa, Kirkpatrick is indeed such a skilled Blues Rock guitarist, and sure enough tonight, his licks and slide guitar grooves were compelling to watch and hear. He's simply so darn good as well as understatedly cool too in performance, and of course Jim’s alter ego is the lead guitarist in legendary British Rock group FM.

In fact this evening we were treated to two FM band members playing this iconic stage, namely dynamic Rock star keyboardist Jem Davis, who totally drew you in on sound and visual, as well as playing a cool harmonica too. I loved the band's sweet playing and vocal delivery, as did my music buddy Kirsten Christenson, who knows her music! Indeed the band, also comprising no less than Status Quo drummer Leon Cave, as well as Paul Rodgers' virtuoso bass man Ian Rowley, so lifted our spirits, without any whiskey involved!

Tonight we felt the enthusiasm and joy, and so appreciated this outstanding quartet coming down South for this special eight-song set. Opening with the title track from Kirkpatrick’s 2020 album 'Ballad of a Prodigal Son', they duly followed this up with two more from the aforementioned release, namely 'No Such Thing as a Sure Thing' and 'Ain't Goin' Down Alone'. Next up were two classic covers, the late Chris Rea’s 'Somewhere Between Highway 61 & 49', plus the Blues of Eddie Boyd's 'Five Long Years', followed by their first airing tonight from 2023's 'Dead Man Walking' and its title track. Proper live Blues Rock to the core, they finished with another from 'Ballad' and 'Always on the Road', before ending with Rory Gallagher's 'I Fall Apart'. Watching and hearing Jim Kirkpatrick's band this evening, definitely scored a Blues Rock bullseye for me!

Finally, as if the craic hadn't already been good enough, this evening's headliner was the Belfast born guitarist Eric Bell, a founding member of legendary Thin Lizzy. Indeed, tonight Bell showed us how skilled he was as he crossed the genres with both his playing and vocals. Classics in his set, delivered with skill and art, included 'Shake Your Moneymaker', 'Two Ships', 'Farther Up The Road', 'Rip It Up' and of course the very apt 'Irish Boy'. Thanks to Stephen Stanley for such Solid Entertainment, as this St Patrick’s Day celebration was a very memorable musical craic!

Video, review and photos: Denise Lester