Ealing Blues Festival Back in Business
Event returns as strong as ever after Covid enforced absence
John Campbell, leader of Europe's leading Jimi Hendrix tribute band Are You Experienced
The 33rd Ealing Blues Festival, one of the longest-running in Europe has been declared ‘back in business’ after its COVID-enforced year off.
The event took place over two Saturdays on 31 July and 7 August 2021 in Walpole Park, Ealing. It was part of The Ealing Summer Festival run by The Event Umbrella for the London Borough of Ealing.
The performers at the 2021 Festival were, in order of appearance: UFO Steelband, Paul Cook ft Emma Wilson, Connor Selby, Robin Bibi Big Band, Are You Experienced?, Capital Chorus, Harrow Steel, Kat Pearson, Boondock Hippy, Big Joe Louis, Catfish, Robert Hokum & The Great West Groove. Hosts: Ian McHugh and Kareña K.
Robert Hokum & The Great West Groove at the 2021 Ealing Blues Festival. Picture: Roger Green
At the end of the second night of festival, founder and artistic director Robert Hokum declared, “We’re back in business as London's longest established blues festival, with a crop of audience and performers who weren't even born when it all started in 1987.”
He added, 'Despite the occasional rain shower people came, proving just how much the Ealing Blues Festival is appreciated by live music fans. I was gratified that the programming of roots, originals and rock as well as blues went down well for all the artists.”
Hokum noted: “The ages of the performers spanned more than 50 years: it just shows how 'intergenerational' this music is. It was reflected the multigenerational nature of the audience, as can be seen in our pictures.
“It proves what a great potential market there is for 'live' music.”
The second afternoon of the Ealing Blues Festival in Walpole Park. Picture: Roger Green
Ealing has a claim to be the spiritual home of British blues and R&B music ever since Saturday 17 March 1962 with the launch by Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies of the UK’s first regular blues night at the Ealing Club in a basement opposite Ealing Broadway Station.
An annual event except for 2020, the Blues Festival was founded in the footsteps of Korner and Davies by local musician Hokum in 1987. It has since grown to become one of the biggest of its kind in the UK, its three stages attracting audiences of over 10,000 people.
The 2022 Ealing Blues Festival is expected to take place over the weekend of 21-23 July.
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August 11, 2021