The 13th Tenby Blues Festival, which took place in glorious sunshine over the weekend of November 16-18, attracted record numbers of visitors to the town to see and hear over 30 acts perform at 25 venues.

There was a happy buzz all over town as the blues community came together to enjoy the great music plus fine food and drink.

Festival co-organiser Chris Osborne said: “We’d like to thank all our sponsors, the many businesses and of course the locals who continue to support our festival. The festival clearly brings great economic benefit to the town, indeed many guest houses, hotels, and holiday lets are already booked for the 14th festival, which will take place over the weekend of November 8-10, 2019. It also brings great joy to all who attend.”

Great joy indeed. There were so many amazing performances that it’s impossible to review them all here although three acts stood out for me.

The Washboard Resonators, who played at Church House, the acoustic venue, and one of the Fourcroft Hotel late night sessions, were highly entertaining and amusing with a mix of familiar and not so familiar tunes from the 20s and 30s played on banjo, guitar, kazoo, and washboard. There was even tap dancing!

Saturday night headliner in the De Valence, American the Reverend Shawn Amos and his band took the place by storm with a dynamic set that mixed blues, soul, gospel, and rock. A voodoo version of Bowie’s 'Jean Genie' was a highlight. There wasn’t a dry sock in the house at the end of the night.

Sunday night’s concert opened with a set by Jodie Marie and Bella Collins, a duo formed out of an inebriated jam at one of last year’s late night session.

Bella (who has been attending the festival for years and is currently working on new material with the legendary Andy Fairweather Low) and Jodie Marie (from Narberth and well known locally) are two fine singer/songwriters with two beautiful voices who delivered a sensational show, delicate and rousing in equal measure, and who thoroughly deserved the standing ovation at the end of their time on stage.

Look out for these two women, their future’s so bright they’ll have to wear shades.

Thanks to all who came. I’m proud to say I was there. Hopefully you will be too, next year.

BB Skone