When? Sat 21/06/2008
Where? De Link
For this festive edition, R.K.Blues programs three groups at a new location.
It’s not the familiar room ‘de Kobbe’ in Rollemgem-Kapelle, but it’s in the roomy, practically appointed events room ‘De Link’ in St.-Eloois-Winkel that gets the preference for the 20th volume of R.K. Blues. This festival doesn’t strive for high, often impossible aims, it’s offering more of a nice, relaxed evening out with good music at an affordable price. It appears they’re very capable of that as they’ve been around for twenty years. And for that they deserve a high response. ‘De Link’ can house alot more spectators than the smaller room at ‘de Kobbe’ and because of that the attendance can be noticeably higher. This room has astounding accoustics, also a great infra structure for both artist and public but smoking was prohibited and this wasn’t appreciated.
A little after 8pm the opener is announced, which are The Sharpee’s (UK). This three man formation covers known and familiar numbers from the blues- and rock scene, and that this hasn’t always been the case, appears so by listening to the CD ‘Strangers’. For the approximately eighty that’s present, whereby a third seated, they walk the walk of Rory, Jimi and Mick. Besides that, a few of their own compositions such as ‘Mr.Fixit’, ‘Damage Is Done’ and ‘I Can’t Go On’ get a place on the set list. Frontman Geoff Everett (vocals, (slide-) guitar, mandolin) doesn’t reach the needed contact with those present and is unable to spread his numbers outside the boundaries of the stage. And then there’s a gap between the public and the stage, which is not conductive for interaction between the two parties. In the room there’s a somewhat resigned atmosphere, with here and there an enthusiastic person and with the youngest present being a two and a half year old girl. Permanent bass player Billy Mead and temporary drummer Baukje Westerlaken (NL) were keeping the pace and during the closing number got a chance to play solo. Geoff wants to perform a bit more in Belgium and to push this, he left some promotion material behind, such as A4 flyers and some live demo’s with five numbers on.
During the break many find their way out to get their nicotine-fix. Meanwhile, Pietje Punk (Gino) can get on with getting the next group ready. Next year the organisors will have to look out for another sound system as Gino and Nancy are drawing a line under their PA work. The lighting mix was arranged by Ronny Demets, who as member of the 7th afternoon, an organisation existing of enthusiastic music lovers who organise tasteful annual blues jams, therefore knows the room extremely well. Even so, the lighting came over a bit static, a little more dynamic variation wouldn’t have been a mis.
Two hours later, with a few more people in the room, the five-member Fake Brothers (NL) appear on stage. Founder Jaap ‘Mr. Fake’ Meurs can count on years of experience and you can’t look past that. This band plays an hour and a half long steaming concert, whereby the public again keeps a too big a distance to the stage. Swinging numbers, ballads of raw blues, this band pulls out all the stops, all ingredients are there to build R.K. Blues 2008 into a great party. But it’s not to be..., not even for birthday boy drummer Ruud Swanink. The band’s got an excellent guitarist, Ed Dieckmann who could count on the public. Just before midnight they gathered up at the edge of the stage, and the three named earlier, alongside bass player Arie de Kruif and keyboard player Jeroen Prinsen, made a bow. A too big an honour for a public that kept their distance, if you ask me.
****About what happened further at the festival we’ll have to sadly disappoint you. Our reporter Patrick had to leave unexpectedly just at the start of Fried Bourbon and Gene Taylor. Myself, I’d just undergone a medical procedure, which means I only took pictures and went home after that. Hereby our apologies, but you can’t always have things in hand. (Bobtje)
Translation by: Marleen Crook-Geebelen
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