Porretta day 3, plus photos

Another exciting and stimulating Porretta Soul Festival has come to an end. Sunday's show was, as usual, a reprise of the acts who had taken part during the previous two days with a couple of surprises along the way. Kicking off events were the excellent Frank Bey and the Anthony Paule Band with an hour's deep soul and blues, with Frank singing no fewer than five numbers that were new to the show. Highlights were I Just Can't Go On Livng, a song written for him that would have done James Carr proud, particularly the way that Frank performed it, You Don't Know Nothing and I Got No Bed For My Soul. Great stuff once again. Other fresh numbers were I Want To Change Your Mind and That's What Love Can Make You Do.
The Muscle Shoals All Star Band returned to the stage for the rest of the evening and provided fantastic backing for the other acts, who were allowed just one or two numbers to show what they could do, beginning with Carla 'Kosmic Mama' Russell with a couple of Staple Singers songs, I'll Take You There and Respect Yourself. Next was a surprise, with Muscle Shoals percussionist Mickey Buckins giving a more than adequate rendition of Dark End Of the Street, followed by Theo Huff (When A Man Loves A Woman), Chick Rodgers (Natural Woman), Chilli Bill Rankin (A Change Is Gonna Come) and Jerry Jones ( Mustang Sally). Denise Lasalle performed Drop That Zero and My Toot Toot, with a whole bunch of people on stage, and Guitar Shorty exchanged guitar licks once more with Muscle Shoals guitarist Will McFarlane. Then it was Toni Green with Bustin' Loose and If Loving You Is Wrong, followed by a highlight, a duet with Vaneese Thomas on Do Right Woman. Vaneese then introduced a large group of teenagers from the Quincy Avenue school in Denver onto the stage for a gospel number before going solo on I'm Your Puppet and an energetic Old Time Rock and Roll. Jimmy Hall really got the crowd going with great versions of Funky Broadway and Land of 1000 Dances, before the whole cast came on stage for the traditional finale of Sweet Soul Music. Another great night at Porretta. Long may it last.
Here's a selection of photos from the three days of the festival. First, here's Carla 'Kosmic Mama' Russell.

This is up and coming soul man Theo Huff.

This is Vaneese Thomas.

Here is Jimmy Hall, formerly of Wet Willie.

The wonderful Denise Lasalle.

The find of the show for me (where has he been over the years?) Frank Bey.

Here is Guitar Shorty.

This is Chick Rodgers.

Here we have the Queen of Porretta, Toni Green.

Two dynamic performers, both individually and as a pair, Jerry Jones and Chilli Bill Rankin.

Ace guitarist with the Muscle Shoals Band Will McFarlane.

Muscle Shoals percussionist and occasional vocalist Mickey Buckins.

Finally, two great soul stars together - Toni Green and Vaneese Thomas.

Words and photos by Nick Cobban.