Rockin' Race - Part 2

Rockin' Race is over and I am now back in a frosty UK. There is no doubt that the highlights for me were Les Greene (pictured above with Deke Dickerson), a very convincing Little Richard type act on the first night, and Bobby Brooks Wilson (pictured below), whose showmanship was second to none on night two. Overall, however, it was Deke Dickerson who was the star of the festival as he backed many of the best acts at different times, adding real class to their performances with his faultless guitar work. He also did a superb solo set of surf, hillbilly and rock and roll at the car show on Saturday afternoon, with Bobby Trimble on drums, supported at various times by the Velvet Candles, ace guitarist Joel Paterson and his old partner Dave Stuckey. Saturday evening at the Auditorium featured German hillbilly singer Marcel Bontempi and Texas rockabilly band the Modern Don Juans. Both were enjoyable without setting the place on fire, as were Italian bluegrass band the Truffle Valley Boys. They were quirky and amusing, but definitely not rock and roll. Neither were The Lucky Stars, a western swing band who failed to excite and persuaded me to leave early, meaning I missed the Delta Bombers (who were on at 2.30am for God's sake). Sunday featured some more music at the Car Show by the Hightone Rhythm Ramblers and the Mad Martin Trio and a couple of interesting bands by the pool in the evening: Spanish rockabilly oufit the Kabooms, and GOONS!, an over the top punk band from Austin dressed in prisoner T shirts and wearing eye masks.

This is Deke Dickerson during his solo show, with Joel Paterson.

Here are some acts from the first day of the festival: Whistle Bait, the Boot Heel Playboys, Rockin' Bonnie Western Bound Combo and the Hi-Jivers.

From Friday's show, here is the Roy Orbison styled Marcel Riesco.

This is German band Smokestack Lightning.

Here are doowop group the Velvet Candles, who backed Marcel and Bobby Brooks Wilson.

This is Californian singer and Mayor of Porta Costa, CA, Mitch Polzac, a character in every sense.

From the Saturday show, here is Marcel Bontempi, the Modern Don Juans, the Truffle Valley Boys and the Lucky Stars.

Finally from Sunday here are the Kabooms and GOONS!