Quacking the Blues 2012

There had been lots of human 'finger crossing' going on around the centre last week as we approached Saturday 4th August with the tents going up for the annual blues festival - and it paid off - the weather held out and was not bad (relative the summer we have 'not had'!).

Storm before the calm!  Plenty of cover just in case!

One stormy shower at about 2pm while the first act sang a song called "let it rain" caused everyone to run for cover - after that we banned songs about rain and had no more!

JR staff Ghislaine and Mick (Gate Keepers) sheltered from the rain in the pergola

The music line up was terrific with 6 bands playing from 1pm to 11pm.  To start the show there was a little rearrangement of schedule as larger than life Steve Steinhaus and his band had a last minute booking to play at the Olympic celebrations in Hyde Park - too good an opportunity to miss, we were very glad he came here first --- what a great sound!
 

Steiny's Blues - got the party started fast!

We had some smashing visitors here for the day - many who have been before but also some new too.

Also some furry visitors - they were very well behaved and left us alone so we did not mind at all  There was a gorgeous Labradoodle as well, who even featured in one of the songs - sadly did not get a picture!

Not sure he was pay full attention to the music!

Overall a terrific day - lots of food and drink for everyone and plenty of good humour and cheer.  We ducks got fed regularly by the visitors and we stayed up late partying, can't wait till next year!

Blue it was not!

After much activity in the garden late last week, we found out what was going on on Saturday - it was time for the, now annual, music "Blues" festival -- and, amazingly, it was not even raining!

The garden gradually filled up and so did the field next door (with tents and cars), then the smell of home-made burgers cooking on the BBQ and real ale being poured pervaded the garden.  Oddly, we beginning to think that we were not to be the centre of attention in the garden for the large amount of visitors arriving, but fortunately we were not left out - two lovely little lads,  who must have spent all their pocket money on duck food for us, arrived just in time (we were very grateful and kept them company for most of the day!)

The music started playing at around 2pm, very gently with Maz Mitrenko. It gradually increased in tempo as styles changed, from the moody Mumbo Jumbo through the Cohen Brothers (who moved on to play at the Worcester Beer Festival after being here!). Then The Outwoods County Riders with their country feel and raunchy sound.  The Trevor Burton band started to play as it was getting dark - brilliant, and finally, our old favourites, The Big Blues Tribe finished the evening on a high -  the music as all terrific (even for us ducks - although the ducklings did give up early and went back to their pen!).

The event had been billed a a "chilled out" day - have a look at some of the sights we saw and see what you think!