Young band are blues favourites
Catherine Turnbull
Bad Taste at The Ferry Inn. Picture Tom O’Brien
BLUES weekend favourites for many were local lads Bad Taste who impressed even the visiting professional bands with their stunning sets.
Even more amazing was the fact that Bad Taste had only played one gig together before – at the Sands Hotel in Burray – and had hardly had a chance to practice since they had got vocalist Ian Craigie on board.
Ian, 18, of Kirkwall, blew the audience away with his powerful voice, reminiscent of a young Paul Rodgers of 1970s band Free. Ian, whose day job is waiting on tables at the Shore Hotel, admits that Rodgers is his greatest hero. Ian’s stage presence is spot on. He’s a great front man, he belts out fantastic vocals while the chemistry within the band working as a team is evident and a joy to watch.
The band play many standards loved by blues bands The world over including Orkney, many of which we heard over the weekend, but guitarist Andrew Taylor, 18, gives them a unique spin that is all his own, working his own magic to keep the tunes fresh. He’s been playing since he was 12 and has already developed his own style.
Dylan Pepper, 18, on percussion and Marcus Cordock on bass, 20, both from Burray, live away studying music and their passion for the blues and experience shows.
Their set at the Ferry Inn on Saturday was well received by a small audience but on Sunday afternoon they packed the back bar in the Royal Hotel with an enthusiastic crowd.
Top tunes included Cream classics Badge, Sunshine of Your Love, White Room and Crossroads, Jimi Hendrix’s Red House, Stealers Wheel’s Stuck in the Middle with You and of course, Free’s Wishing Well.
They brought the house down at the Royal which is no mean feat at 5pm on a Sunday afternoon after a long weekend of blues music.
Ian told the crowd it had been a great weekend and a dream hatched four months ago to play at the festival had come true.
For my part I hope the fab four will be getting together in Orkney for a sesh again soon.
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