Rockin' Race day 1

Round this time of year I like to escape the English winter and head to Spain for a bit of sunshine and the ever entertaining Rockin' Race Jamboree. This year is no exception and although the weather in Torremolinos is rather cool this time the music at this sold out rock and roll festival is hot. The first evening saw a good mix of bands, although all of them were male, with several stand out acts. First up were the Barnshakers from Finland, a fairly bog standard rockabilly outfit, but they were followed on the smaller stage by US guitarist Kyle Eldridge (pictured above), who came highly recommended by Boston based friend Noah Shaffer, who it was good to see after a long time. Kyle didn't disappoint. He plays a double neck guitar with lightning speed, so much so that he blew his amp at one stage. His numbers have a bit of a bluegrass feel and included his forthcoming single 'Root Beer' and 'Washing Machine Boogie'. Back on the main stage it was the turn of a double headed act featuring Pike Cavallero and Charlie Hightone which, despite some classy vocal support from the Velvet Candles, was all a bit raucous.

I took a quick look at the Western Toneflyers on the second stage but things really took off with the next act Deke Dickerson and the Whippersnappers. Deke is a regular performer here and does not disappoint. The big crowd reacted enthusiastically to his top notch guitar work on a range of rockabilly and Country flavoured rockers. Stand outs included 'High Noon', 'Besame Mucho' and 'Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor' and he and his young band got two encores, culminating in 'Mule Skinner Blues'.

Next up was another popular act, James Intvelt, once of the Blasters, who put it an enjoyable and quite bluesy set which ranged from 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' to an extended 'Polk Salad Annie'. By this time it was getting late but I decided to hang on to find out out who this year's 'surprise' band was. It turned out to be 70s favourites Matchbox, with Graham Fenton fronting, who launched straight into their hits including 'Rockabilly Rebel' and 'Buzz Buzz A Diddle It'. The audience, dwindling by this time, loved it and it was a great way to end the evening.