Ipswich Music Festival 2006

The 15th Ipswich Music Festival in Christchurch Park was held on the hottest day of the year. This is the largest free music festival in the region the only cost being £3 for a car if you drive to the event which is terrific value considering there are 7 stages in a lovely park.

All types of music can be heard from punk, rock,blues,country,folk and classical. We arrived at a bout midday and because of the heat it was a case of heading for shade under trees. Sitting out in the open was just to much.

We started of at the SGR stage and listened to a band called Storm. It is always difficult to play firstespeciallyy when the crowds have yet to arrive and under the mid day sun. However they played an enjoyable set of covers songs such as Ready to Go, Smells like Teen Spirit, Highway to Hell being typical of their set. After this we watched a band called Opus Jinks who seemed to have a lot of local support and backing though not really my cup of tea.

I decided to go over to the Suffolk Radio Stage to watch Just Blues who were entertaining and I watched all of their set in the strongest heat of the day. We then returned to the SGR stage for Hobo Chang and the very popular Rosalita .
As yet they are an unsigned band but they are certainly a band who are energetic the keyboard player reminded me of some one from Freddy and the Dreamers but I don't think he would thank me for the comparison. The drummer in particularly stood out for me as some one with real talent. I think they were refreshing different from a lot of the stuff we had heard before and playing their own music.

We then caught a bit of Fuzzface not my sort of thing at all before the main act of the day the legendary Dr Feelgood at about 6.30pm. A great set including all the usual favourites this is one of the hardest working bands in the world. Robert Kane is a great lead singer for this band and Steve Walwyn never fails to impress particulalry with his solo on Down by the Jetty Blues. Kevin Watson on the drums and Phil Mitchell are the ever present mainstays of the band.

Great songs were included in the set Down at the Doctors,Going Back Home, Back in the Night, Milk andalcoholl, Gimme One More Shot and Bony Moronie to name a few.

I have now seen the band play at Norwich, Lowestoft and Ipswich and they are always fantastic entertainment.

Stephen Foster from Suffolk Radio introduced Dr Feelgood on to the Suffolk Radio Stage and for me they were the highlight of another great music day at Christchurch Park Ipswich. If you haven't been before do so there are also a number of stalls plenty of food and drink and your are within walking distance of town.

My Favourite CD's - 7th in a Series

Dr Feelgood

Have a look at their website as they modestly state they are ''The official greatest Rhythm'n'Blues band of the world!''

Ok maybe not, but surely the hardest working band in the world and one of the best live bands to go and watch. I believe they have been on tour pretty much continuously every since 1973 some 32 years ago. They have gone through a number of different line ups in this time.

I first saw them back in 1978 somewhere in London. I believe their line up then was Lee Brilleaux , Wilko Johnson - John 'Big Figure' Martin and John B. 'Sparko' Sparks. Not quite sure if Wilko had left at this time to form his own band the Solid Senders? He was replaced by John Mayo. It was around about this time that the Feelgoods had their biggest hit with Milk and Alcohol. I saw Wilko Johnson at Reading festival in 1979.

I recently saw Dr Feelgood again I think it was in 2003 at Lowestoft and also at Norwich in 2004 with their current line up Kevin Morris - Phil Mitchell - Robert Kane - Steve Walwyn.

Dr Feelgood emerged from the pub band circuit in Canvey Island Essex. In the late 70's the Feelgoods were playing to sell out audiences and had number 1 albums. They still have a great following and tour relentlessly throughout Europe.

Dr Feelgood the UA years track listing is

Roxette, She Does it Right, Back in the Night, Going Back Home, Riot in Cell Block No 9, Sneakin Suspicion,
She 's a wind up, Baby Jane, Down at the Doctors, Milk and Alcohol, As long as the Price is Right, Put him out of your mind, Hong Kong Money, No Mo Do Yakamo, Jumping from love to love, Violent Love, Waiting for Saturday Night, Monkey, Trying to Live My Lfe without you, Crazey about girls, My Way, Mad Man Blues, See you Later Alligator, Hunting Shooting Fishing.

You should be able to pick this album up dirt cheap. See link below you can buy from Amazon for just £3.53. Every collection should have Dr Feelgood .

Eight Bars on Piano - Down to the Doctor !