Gullible's Travels: UK Blues Festival 2026

Monday, February 02, 2026

UK Blues Festival 2026

Winter Gardens, Blackpool. Friday/Monday 30-January/01-February-2026.

Part three of a January road trip. A couple of days in Essex, six days in Italy and a return to the UK to pick up our car from Stansted mid stay and drive straight to Blackpool.

This was our third visit to Blackpool for this festival. We booked shortly after it finished last year to take advantage of the early bird ticket deal. We were so quick off the mark that we got tickets numbers 3 and 4. When I pointed that out to Steven, the organiser, he joked that we should be book earlier next time.

Our accommodation was a real find, high quality beautiful place within 5 minutes walking distance of the venue and with off-street parking

Friday 30-January-2026.

Friday Timetable.

Friday Main Stage.

Mississippi MacDonald ✱ ✱ ✱. We missed the first band on the main stage but arrived just in time to hear an act we discovered two years ago and he gets better each time we hear him. Great voice, great playing and great band. Memphis and Delta Blues.

Deborah Bonham Band. ✱ 1/2 Sister of John Bonham of Led Zeppelin fame. Unfortunately no surprise appearance Robert Plant like two years ago. Accomplished musicians but not our favourite style of music.

After a day of travelling we needed an early night so left before the end.

Saturday 31-January-2026

Lytham Hall 31/01/2026 30:38 [159 / 308].

Saturday morning was, of course #parkrunday. Having done the two nearest parkruns in previous years we had to go slightly further afield to Lytham-St Annes for a parkrun run at the majestic Lytham Hall.

After a return to the apartment and a shower, it was off to the Winter Gardens for more music.

Saturday Timetable.

Saturday Acoustic stage.

In previous years we have enjoyed the acoustic sets played in a lovely room that looks like an old pub.

Mississippi MacDonald. ✱ ✱ ✱ Old school blues this time the acoustic version.

Steve Pablo Jones standing in for Demi Marriner ✱ ✱. Next up was supposed to be Demi but she was suffering with some kind of lurgy so withdrew in order to save her voice for the evening set. Not sure about him at first but he grew on me.

Saturday main stage.

Mick McConnell and Blue Thunder. ✱ 1/2 - rockers, accomplished but nothing to distinguish from others.

Demi Marriner. ✱ ✱ ✱ We had seen Demi perform before but only as part of Elles Bailey’s band so it was a delight to see her with her own band. Even under the weather, absolutely magic. Fantastic personality, amazing voice, great songwriting, great band.

Climax Blues Band. ✱ ✱ Great tight band, enjoyable but can't stop comparing them to the line-up we first saw at Skegness in 2020 with a different lead singer with a distinctive voice, especially as we listen to the CDs from that era.

Kitty, Daisy and Lewis. ✱ 1/2 Competent and versatile musicians, the three siblings rotated between lead, bass and drums which was impressive but risked them being jack-of-all-trades but master of none (especially on the drums). Their music style had shades of Madness but not for us.

Sunday 01-February-2026.

Sunday Timetable.

Sunday Introducing stage.

McHale's Permanent Brew. ✱ ✱ ✱ Rock band with a difference. Great musicianship and songwriting, tight band and, like last time at Liverpool, great banter. They come across as fun, caring people.

Sunday Acoustic stage.

Brave Rival. ✱ ✱ ✱ Great set, fabulous comedic banter.

Lindsey Bonnick and guitarist Ed "the Shred" Clarke traded insults in the best possible way.

Adam Sweet. ✱ ✱ Accomplished singer-songwriter. Enjoyable to listen too but not memorable enough to buy a CD.

Sunday Main stage.

James Oliver Band. ✱ ✱ Amazing guitarist but banter, music and band set up so does not work for me.

Mary left me guarding our seats while she went off to catch some of the other acts:

The Outlaw Orchestra - Introducing ✱ 1/2 Trio - 2 guitars & drums. Not sure about the drummer, guitarists good but not remarkable.
Sean Taylor - Acoustic ✱ ✱ 1/2 Guitar & bass. Only heard 2 songs but liked them and audience obviously loved him. Proper acoustic, old style blues then folk / rock (Freedom ex Richie Havens), good banter
The Living Cup - Introducing ✱ 1/2 Five piece, four guitars and drums. Good musically but not great, not sure about lead singer's voice.

Sunday Main Stage.

Will Wilde ✱ ✱ 1/2 Great band and vocals / harp playing. Five piece: Will on vocals/harp, two guitarists, keyboards and Animal on drums (aka Kev Hickman).

Brave Rival. ✱ ✱ ✱ Lovely to hear them for the second time in a day and compare the "acoustic" and full force versions.

Andy Fairweather-Low and The Low Riders. ✱ ✱ ✱ A musical history lesson & masterclass from the 77 year old Andy and his band of cronies.

Andy on vocals and the only guitar with two brass, a bass and drums. His voice may be going but guitar skills are still amazing as was his array of seven guitars!