Fort basement to host Sunday blues sessions

Jul 10 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYSIDE blues duo Blue C are hosting a series of second-Sunday-in-the-month sessions at the "unusual but superb" venue of Fort Perch Rock, at New Brighton.

Raphael Callaghan, singer, slide guitarist and harmonica player of Blue C, got the idea from going to the long- running and hugely successful Merseybeat Story events at the historic fort.

At these, veteran members of Merseybeat groups of the 60s would perform in the intimate setting of the venue's tiny basement.

Callaghan, whose harmonica work has graced sessions by Alexis Korner, Eric Bibb and Bonnie Raitt, said: "We hardly ever play in Liverpool these days, and it is hard to find a suitable venue for our kind of music.

"But the basement room at Fort Perch Rock just oozes with atmosphere, even before a note is played.

"What with Tony Davis’s jazz sessions there as well, I hope the Fort will become the place to be for quality roots music on Merseyside.’’

Blue C’s special guest at the first Sunday blues afternoon this weekend is Al Willard Peterson.

His pedigree goes back to the Cavern days and stints with Almost Blues, Supercharge, 29th And Dearborn and his own long- running R ’n’ B band, The Lawnmower.

Music is from 1pm- 4pm. There will also be a blues disco, a display of blues memorabilia and CDs to be won. The Fort has a cafe and bottle bar and admission is £3.

Further Sunday blues afternoons with Blue C and guests are scheduled for August 10th and September 14th.

For details of Sunday and future sessions, phone 0151 709 5484.