# Videos & Live review: Bluesfestival Hoogeveen Festival 2024 tightly organized, with a nice varied line-up, a nice hall – Photo album

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2024/09/26/videos-live-review-bluesfestival-hoogeveen-festival-2024-tightly-organized-with-a-nice-varied-line-up-a-nice-hall-photo-album/
- Published: 2024-09-26T00:03:22+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Met Laurence Jones, Ten Years After, Julian Sas, Danny Giles, Emilly Hill, Chicago
Blues Duo (Robbert Fossen & Thomas Toussaint), Ralph de Jongh, Richville en Feather&
the White.**

The festival kicked off with the Chicago blues duo. Robbert Fossen and Thomas Toussaint
are the names of this duo, and it turned out to be a perfect opening for the festival.
The two experienced musicians know the ropes when it comes to putting down an attractive
set. Referring to the rich history of Chicago blues, the acoustic guitar, the harmonica
and the dark voice of Robbert complemented each other perfectly.

A disadvantage of three stages is that two “must-see” bands sometimes perform on
stage at the same time. For example, the great Dutch blues talent Emily Hill and
master guitarist Julian Sas performed at the same time.

![Laurence Jones   - Photography Gerrie van Barneveld](https://i0.wp.com/live.staticflickr.
com/65535/54013094730_7b45ea186e_o.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

I preferred Emily Hill, because I wanted to see if she could live up to the expectations
she had raised in me at the Engel Blues Festival in Oss in 2022. She did: in a set
that included more of her own songs, the flexibility of her voice and the naturalness
with which she moved across the stage were particularly noticeable.

She confirmed that her selection for The Dutch Blues Awards was fully justified.
Afterwards, she said she was delighted with this nomination and was really looking
forward to her performance in Tivoli. She had even rehearsed new songs.

I am curious to see how that will turn out, because it promises to be spectacular
at the Dutch Blues Challenge 2024, with bands such as Emily Hill, Five Dollar Shake,
Meryn Bevelander Band and Mojo Hand.

![Chicago Blues Duo (Robbert Fossen & Thomas Toussaint) - Photography Gerrie van
Barneveld](https://i0.wp.com/live.staticflickr.com/65535/54013094675_5c169df602_o.
jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

Convinced that Emily Hill will make it, I experienced the last twenty minutes of
Julian Sas. With the recordings of his new album in the back of my mind, it was 
good to see that his guitar playing is still completely intact.

The solo that introduced *Sugar Cup Boogie* was fantastic, and the closing *Hey 
Joe* was incredibly beautiful. Julian Sas remains a top performer and a calling 
card for Dutch blues.

It’s embarrassing, but I didn’t know Richville, aka Richard van Bergen, yet. Somehow
this singer/guitarist hadn’t appeared on my radar yet. What he, together with guest
drummer Gert Servaes (Boogie Beasts), showed, was very good.

![Julian Sas   - Photography Gerrie van Barneveld](https://i0.wp.com/live.staticflickr.
com/65535/54012666516_e353f4bbc5_o.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

The songs were introduced with memories of the rich history of the blues, such as
the origin of the famous *Tush* riff by ZZ Top, his introduction to R.L. Burnside.
A source of inspiration because his music refers to the bluesman and that blues 
that swung and grabbed you.

At the end Robbert Fossen and Thomas Toussaint joined the duo for a steaming rendition
of Eddie Taylor’s *Bad Boy*. A pleasant introduction to bluesman Richard van Bergen.

In the meantime, Ten Years After had already started in the main hall, with two 
original members: Chick Churchill (keyboards) and Ric Lee (drums), and the well-
known bassist Colin Hodgekinson and singer/guitarist Markus Bonfanti.

![Ralph de Jongh   - Photography Gerrie van Barneveld](https://i0.wp.com/live.staticflickr.
com/65535/54012666471_ee480c2bfc_o.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

The latter carries a large part of the show; he is a perfect replacement for Alvin
Lee. His singing and guitar playing almost make you forget Alvin, and his enthusiasm
is infectious, just like the Ten Years After classics of yesteryear: *Change the
World*, *Hear Me Calling*, *Love Like a Man*, *Little Schoolgirl*, *I Say Yeah* 
and the inevitable *Going Home*.

In between, there was a small acoustic set with two songs from their first album:*
Don’t Want You Woman* and *Losing the Dogs*. The band also played *The Hobbit*, 
which those in the know know has a drum solo.

Now 79 years old, Ric Lee still holds his own behind the drum kit. After *Going 
Home* the band returned for an encore in the form of *Choo Choo Mama*.

![Feather & The White  - Photography Gerrie van Barneveld](https://i0.wp.com/live.
staticflickr.com/65535/54013094690_c75eddc337_o.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

In the meantime, Ralph de Jongh was already in full swing on the outdoor stage. 
The tent was packed, so I watched the performance from a distance, but given the
reactions and knowing Ralph, it was a party.

Although Ralph far exceeded his playing time, the duo Feather and the White had 
already started with their gritty blues rock and Laurence Jones. Laurence was in
the mood; his band had been reduced to a power trio with Jack Alexander Timmis on
bass and Alan Taylor on drums, who guarantee a solid foundation.

The latest album, *Bad Luck & the Blues*, is of the heavy kind, and that was exactly
what we were presented with tonight. No fuss, just full throttle.

![Ten Years After   - Photography Gerrie van Barneveld](https://i0.wp.com/live.staticflickr.
com/65535/54012666531_7d37ee9873_o.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

The rocking *Lonely Road*, with a nod to Status Quo, where he was the support act,
received a special mention, because according to Francis Rossi it could have been
a Quo song.

There were also moments of rest, such as the all-time Laurence Jones classic *Thunder
in the Sky* and his ode to his idol with *Voodoo Child*. A great renewed acquaintance
with Laurence Jones.

Bluesfestival Hoogeveen, a festival to definitely come back to. Tightly organized,
with a nice varied line-up, a nice hall, good sound and well visited.

![Ten Years After   - Photography Gerrie van Barneveld](https://i0.wp.com/live.staticflickr.
com/65535/54012666531_7d37ee9873_o.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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