Rockin' Race days 1 and 2

With 41 acts, three stages and attracting thousands of rockabilly fans across Europe, the Rockin' Race Jamboree can surely claim to be the biggest rock and roll festival in Europe. Blessed with sunny weather and beauiful scenery Torremolinos is a great place for a Winter getaway. And much of the music has been excellent so far, despite the absence now, and no doubt in the future, of any original 50s and 60s artists. The festival started off in fairly low key fashion with some acts by the poolside at the Barracuda Hotel including the Tennessee Hotshots and Whistle Bait. And the first two acts at the Auditorium Principe De Asturias, the Western flavoured Boot Heel Playboys and the Rockin' Bonnie Western Bound Combo, didnt exactly set pulses racing despite being competent enough. The first act in the adjoining Paradise Hall was another matter. Les Greene was a contestant on American Idol apparently and his incredible high energy act, including somersaults and the splits, was a sight to behold. Backed by Deke Dickerson and his excellent band Les tore through medleys of songs by Sam Cooke, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis in exciting style. He is a latter day Little Richard in fact and I look forward to seeing him again. Another good act on day one were Nashville based Wild Records act the Hi Jivers featuring a female singer who certainly impressed. Undoubted star of the second night was Bobby Brooks Wilson who had 16 people backing him including five horns and five backing vocalists including three members of the Velvet Candles. Bobby has clearly inherited his brilliant showmanship from his dad Jackie and did an excellent job recreating his hits, starting with 'Reet Petite' and including 'That's Why', 'Baby Workout', 'Sweetest Feeling' and 'Higher and Higher' plus a couple of High energy Sam Cooke numbers including 'Twisting The Night Away'. Earlier I enjoyed the Roy Orbison stylings of Marcel Riesco, who had some help from the Candles on one number, and bluesy stuff from German band Smokestack Lighning, who were rather tuneless on some numbers but showed that they knew what they were doing on songs such as 'Polk Salad Annie' and 'Gentle On My Mind'.Back in the Paradise Hall I very much enjoyed the surf guitar and Bakersfield country music of the silver haired Mitch Polzac, who jumped around in the audience helped by Deke Dickerson quietly playing away in the background. Excellent stuff and a pretty good night all round with more to follow.