Review: Matlock Bath Music Festival ticks all the boxes

Extending to almost a half mile and covering eight different venues the annual Matlock Bath Music Festival once again won many plaudits as bands, duos and solo wannabes did their thing.

Working our way down the half mile strip from the north end of Matlock Bath, the first port of call saw Another Bloody Day, a singer songwriter whose name I missed kept the County And Station entertained, as did Saskia & Tony, who were camped outside Bank Note, a minute or so walk down the road who played a cluster of acoustic tunes and covers.

Pocketful O’ Nowt a foursome from Barnsley/Rotherham way who’ve been at it for only five years, really were a crowd puller. With Simon Piper on drums, Mike

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Milnthorpe on bass, Toni Lane on guitar and the completely bonkers Mike O’Brien on the vocals this lot played a blinder. With simple foot-tappers like Sunglasses, Death, Lumpy Legs and rilliant The Yorkshire Groove, Pocketful O’Nowt did it for me.

Quite simply, this gang did what any band is supposed to do and that’s entertain! The singer’s even written a book called Sixty Odd Songs.

Next stop was The Fishpond as we caught singer songwriter Emily Abdy who did the James Bond themed hit Skyfall to name but one with 29 Days, a threesome from Chesterfield occupying the outside terrace bar. Young they may be, and yes, they have much to learn, but they gave it their best and received warm support.

Festival regulars Sherocks did a good job at Princess Victoria with Sweet Home Alabama, AC/DC’s Highway To Hell which went down a storm, and stuff by ZZ Top this fivesome played the game well.

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With more bands filling more stages until closing time this popular and welcoming festival yet again did good business. The weather held a few back but for my money this free one day festival ticks all my boxes and hopefully will continue to grow and develop over the coming years.

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