Porretta final day plus photos

The final night at the Porretta Soul Festival featured most of the acts from the previous couple of days performing just two or three numbers each. It was a very enjoyable evening, even though most of the songs had already been performed during the Friday or Saturday shows. It began, however, rather shakily, with a blues band called Amnesia International, who were competent enough, but not really suitable for a soul festival. Numbers included Hold On I'm Coming, I Put A Spell On You, Steamy Windows, Every Day I Have The Blues and Midnight Hour, sung by MC Rick Hutton.
The evening improved when the excellent Anthony Paule Band took over the backing duties. Derek Martin reprised three of his numbers and Prince Phillip Mitchell, suffering a cold, did two before Theo Huff emerged wearing a splendid white suit with orange hat, trimmings, shoes and shirt and gave a bravado performance on Running Out Of Lies and It's A Good Thing I Met You. He's a real showman and hopefully we will see more of him in the future.
Frank Bey (pictured above), making his third appearance of the weekend, kicked off with a superbly soulful song I Just Can't Go On, written by Christine Vitale, wife of Anthony Paule, plus three from his earlier appearances. There was an appearance by Bernard 'Pretty Purdie, and a return by Sugar Pie DeSanto, this time wearing a black spangly trouser suit and hat. David Hudson actually completed a couple of superb numbers this time, including Love And Happiness, while Chick Rodgers and Wee Willie Walker again impressed. The show ended with the now traditional finale with nearly all of the artists on stage together contributing to various numbers including Drink Muddy Water, Every Day I Have The Blues and Stoop Down Baby.
Here's a selection of photos from the weekend: First, here is Wee Willie Walker.

This is Sax Gordon, who was on stage for nearly all the weekend.

Here is Sugaray Rayford, a surprise hit from the Friday show.

Drummer Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie sold out of his autobiography. Of the 2500 artists he has worked with the singer who showed most emotion, he said, was Aretha Franklin.

Theo Huff was one of the real stars of the weekend. Here he is in action on the final evening.

Prince Phillip Mitchell showed that he is as good a singer as he is a songwriter.

Here is Derek Martin.

Stax sax man Joe Arnold played a few numbers on the Saturday evening.

Chick Rodgers has a big voice, very much in the style of Aretha.

More of an entertainer than a singer these days, here is Sugar Pie DeSanto.

Here is Porretta regular David Hudson,

Finally, here's one of me with Prince Phillip Mitchell.