Mustique Blues Rolls On

The Mustique Blues Festival is slated to return to mainland St. Vincent.

The 2012 event is expected to get going on January 25. It will be played at its original base, the internationally renowned Basil’s Bar on Mustique and also continue its showing in neighbouring Bequia.

A number of staple acts will return, and a few new faces will be expected to race the stakes. Dana Gillespie, dubbed ‘the inspirational factor of the Mustique Blues’, will continue as lead act to a core of musicians.

Zach Prather, a Chicago born guitarist, will abandon his base in Switzerland to be part of the event. Joel DeLuna, who resides in Sweden, will make the journey, highlighting the importance he attaches to this exercise.

Julien Brunetaud, a piano player since he was 12, will blend his ivory with vocal harmonies, and he will match wits with another pianist/vocalist, Scottish born Paddy Milner.

Lewis Cohen is billed as one of Britain’s most entertaining present day acoustic blues players and he will be out to prove just that.

Veronica, the Ukulele Lady, will add to the entourage, and with Jake Zaitz, versed on keyboard and guitar, the stakes get higher.

Mike Paice, on saxophone and harmonica, intensifies the sound even further.

And make room for Jeff Walker, bass guitarist and vocalist of the highest order, together with drummers/percussionists of the highest order, Jamie Little and Enrico Morena.

If you miss the live performances, there will be CDs on sale, proceeds going to the Basil Charles Education Foundation.