Ponderosa Stomp photos

The Ponderosa Stomp may be over but great memories remain. Here are some photos of acts who did, or, in one case, didn't, appear this year. First, the man who has organised all 13 Stomps, Dr Ike. Thanks Ira for your efforts over the years.

Friday night's show at the Orpheum began with bluesman Billy Boy Arnold.

A Louisiana swamp pop session followed, with T K Hulin, G G Shinn and Warren Storm.

Next up was swamp pop singer turned soul man Willie West.

Backing up Willie and a number of other singers were a group of backing singers, which included an old friend from my mining company days Greg Probst.

Soul man Winfieild Parker showed some nifty dance steps during his set.

Another soul singer with some good moves, here is Archie Bell. 'If you see any Drells you're drunk as hell.'

The star of the first night was the Gulf Coast Soul Queen Barbara Lynn.

Backing Barbara and one or two other acts was Woodie Armand St Martin.

Now recovered from illness, Roy Head was as wild as ever in his set.

Also pretty wild was the Ragin' Cajun Doug Kershaw.

The cancellation of the second night due to the threatened hurricane meant that some of the acts ended up appearing on a small stage at the Ace Hotel during the day. Here are Los Straitjackets.

Several vocalists joined them on stage including Tom Kenny, the voice of Spongebob Squarepants, who sang Ooh Poo Pah Doo.

Providing plenty of excitement were Japanese band the Stomping Riff Raffs, comprising a male vocalist and three masked females.

The Mummies were one of a number of garage bands on the bill. They were loud, but popular.

Making an excellent impression was rockabilly man Johnny Knight.

Also very impressive in her short set, here is Evie Sands.

Gary US Bonds did a short but enjoyable and highly amusing set.

Finally, an act we didn't get to see, despite the best efforts of Lloyd (Mohair Slim), here's Roy Gaines with me, Noah Shaffer and Marc Engel.

Nick Cobban