Rhythm And Blues Music



  • Paul Lamb and The Kingsnakes, bandleader and renowned harmonica player from Northumberland
  • Local blues player Steve Kent
  • Spanish-English bluesman Mike Sanchez formerly of the Big Town Playboys
  • 70s-originating British band Willie and The Bandits
  • Gloucestershire blues and jazz band Steve Browning Band
  • Muleskinner, 'Kickass blues with attitude' fronted by Juliette Prais

Festival posters, programmes and flyers are available for download from their website.

Where are the Venues?

The venues for each gig change, opening up the whole town as a music gig.

Many of these free events occur in Gloucester Park which, the week before the rhythm and blues festival, also plays host to an Event in the Park which also sees free music on a live stage and a funfair.

Other venues include:

Pig Inn The City: a traditional-style pub on Westgate Street marketing itself as "Gloucester's Rock Pub & Live Music Venue", catering for Metal, Rock, Indie, Pop, Goth and Punk. They have a MySpace page. Tel: 01452 421960

Café René: which holds an entry in the Rough Guide to England and also has a website, is an unusual bar on Southgate Street with a romantic atmosphere and great menu. During the festival they have an outside stage, pig roast, Rene BBQ, real ale and cider festival, ghost walks fundraising and more... Tel: 01452 309340

Cross Keys Inn: just off Southgate Street, is an 18th century pub stocking traditional ales and serving food. They often play host to the rhythm and blues festival jam night when people can come together and make music. Tel: 01452 523358

Accommodation

Visit www.cityofgloucester.co.uk or contact the Gloucester Tourist Information Centre on 01452 396572, email: tourism@gloucester.gov.uk

The Gloucester International Rhythm & Blues Festival combines great live music with an historical town and venues. An excellent way to enjoy the summer in the West Country.

Pop Music – History and Facts Revealed

One genre that appeals to most everyone is pop music owing to its light and catchy qualities. Pop music is so aptly called because it is a categorization that is largely based on the popularity of a song. There is no clear and distinct parameters to classify a song as pop music. For the most part, its popularity should translate to records sold and radio air times.


Pop music is a combination of various styles influenced by the evolving music forms. The development of pop music is one that is progressive, rolling over from generation to generation to snowball into its current form. As this is so, pop music has taken so many forms through each decade to reflect the musical preference of a particular generation.


Rich Vocals

During the 50s, popular tunes were those that were vocally rich with a string accompaniment and a vocal chorus back up. Country music and American folk music were great hits along with variations of standard formats. Great American songbook classics, crooners and big band singers adopted other musical techniques to give their music a modern twist. The listening public lapped these enhancements up and caused songs like Mack the Knife and Singing the Blues to top the charts. In contrast to these classics, rock and roll likewise rocked the American music industry with fast and infectious beats of Rock Around the Clock, Heartbreak Hotel, and Tutti Fruitti. These tunes not only rocked the airwaves, they also rocked the dance floors.


All in the Band

The next decade brought in what is called as the novelty song characterized by humorous lyric combined with melodies that are simple yet catchy (i.e. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, California Girls, and Good Vibrations). Worthy of note is the fact that the vocal harmonies and lyrics of these songs revolved around Californias surf, girls and cars. Thus the label Surf pop. Other popular music during the sixties were youth-oriented band music in up-tempo beat, I Want to Hold Your Hand,Cant Buy Me Love, Downtown, and To Sir With Love.” African American music likewise joined the popular music scene with its doo-wop style that gives prominence to melodic sounds and vocal harmonies. Rhythm and blues as well as Motown soul music were also chart-toppers during this period.


Cacophony of Sounds

From the 1970s to the present, pop music is as diverse as they come. A slowdown in musical tempo was seen in the early seventies when folk-based artists took center stage. Popular during these times were songs written by the singers themselves. Tempos picked up again towards in the second half of the decade when disco-dancing became a favorite pastime among the youth. Dance tunes Play That Funky Music, Staying Alive, and YMCA dominated the airwaves and the disco scene.


The 1980s and 1990s music scene was composed of music soundtracks, international hits, rock and roll, and pop icon duets. Another music development in this decade is the advent of charity records where artists put their talents together to raise funds for a cause. Particularly characteristic of the last two decades are the prevalence of songs by female artists like Mariah Carrey, Celine Dion, and pop icon Madonna. The new millennium kept with soulful ballads, hip hop pieces and dance tracks. Movie soundtracks remained chart-toppers.


Pop music is a genre that will always be around. People will always listen to music and music labels and radio stations will continue to track what songs people are listening to. For as long as people are playing and listening to music, there will always be a chart-topper.