It’s the weekend following the late-May bank holiday, so it’s time to whiz it down to the west country. More specifically to Court Farm in Weston Super Mare for the 10^th Anniversary incarnation of the Rockin’ Round Up, a three-day festival that was the brainchild of Western Star head honcho Alan Wilson and Mr. Ian Hibbert. I have been fortunate enough to attend each one of these brilliant festivals since their inception and I am delighted to report that this year’s didn’t disappoint one little jot. 

Firstly, the setting is idyllic, especially when bathed in the sunshine that has so reliably blessed this event over the years. Two large fields abut the entrance, and it is here that the camping takes place, continue down the driveway and you eventually reach the barn where all the festivities occur. Bearing in mind that the venue is a farm it is worth noting quite how scrupulously clean it is, indeed, I spied not a single turd during the weekend. The barn itself boasts a huge bar that runs down the length of the barn and which, as probably goes without saying for a rockabilly festival, is well used, though I didn’t see any problems resulting from intoxication, such is the good-natured predisposition of all in attendance. The barn itself is bedecked with large round tables with white table-cloths and the ceiling is draped with white fabric and fairy lights that makes the venue seem far more like the venue of a posh wedding (a purpose that it also serves) than the grubby, smoke soiled venues that one used to frequent in one’s youth. Add to the aesthetic beauty of the barn, charming reception staff, security and bar staff and you can begin to see why this event has all of the hallmarks for success.

The first band to the stage was the Wolftones: a band that I saw at the Welsh Rockabilly Fair, but the improvement in the band was tangible. Perhaps this owed something to the exceptional sound system worked by Will, but whatever the reason, I have seldom enjoyed an opening act more. The band is a five-piece, consisting of drums, double-bass, guitar, vocals and harmonica. The inclusion of the harmonica, I suspect, betrays the blues leaning of the band, but one cannot mistake the band’s love of rockabilly. The band has recorded two albums for Western Star and I urge you to check out the band if you haven’t already done so. ‘Rooster Blues’, ‘Sold My Soul’ and ‘Shot Down’ stand out as especially memorable tracks.

Next to the stage and making a return to the Round Up for the first time since 2023, all the way from Utah, was Lean Canteen. A five-piece band consisting of steel guitar, lead guitar, drums, vocals and acoustic guitar, and a bass-player in the form of one-time member of Johnny Bach and the Moonshine Boozers, Paul ‘Woody’ Woodmansey. The band plays a delightful mix of rockabilly and western swing with elements of doo-wop. Tremendous renditions of Royce Porter’s ‘Yes I Do’ and Gene Vincent’s ‘Be Bop A Lula’ stand out as gems in a fantastic set.

To the headline act of Day 1, and you couldn’t have chosen a better band than the Rimshots. Hailing from in and around Cardiff, this band composed on the incomparable John Lewis on acoustic guitar and vocals, the fantastic Rob Nedin on lead guitar, Tony Biggs slapping the hell out of his bass, and the king of the drums Mark Kemlo, is one mighty rockabilly behemoth. ‘Rock All Night’ gets the show under way at which point the audience resembles a scrum. Speaking to John the next day he said that he could sense that the audience was up for it and says, amusingly, that he was ‘just the right side of pissed’. I can only concur, because this is without doubt the best Rimshots gig that I have ever seen. They are of course, all remarkable musicians, none more so than Bristolian Tony Biggs, who is absolutely all over that double bass of his – he is a joy to behold as is Rob Ndlin who plays deft and frequently delicate guitar lines. The band was joined on stage by Paul Godden who played the most exquisite steel guitar adding to an already rich concoction. ‘I Get The Blues When It Rains’ is a perfect celebration of the talents of the band as a whole. The ‘Boogieman’ sees John in full manic mode as he masterfully spits out the lyrics at pace, this is followed by the band’s fantastic rendition of Hank Wiliams’ ‘Ramblin Man’. John looks positively possessed when performing this number, it is just sublime. The highlight for me, however, is perhaps the Tom Jones’ classic ‘Chills and Fever’ with John’s effortless key changes being a joy to behold. This has been a superb climax to a wonderful first day down Weston way.

First up on the Saturday slot were the Jukes. This was a band that was entirely new to me, but who also impressed me. Consisting of upright bass, lead guitar, drums and harmonica with the singing duties being shared around, the band managed the not inconsiderable feat of getting feet on the dancefloor even at this early hour. Having warmed the stage perfectly, Rudy Le Crioux and the All Stars returned to the stage after an eleven-year absence. Though, you would be forgiven for thinking that the band had not been away at all. Building upon a solid rhythm section of Woody Woodmansey on slap bass and Ian Hibbert on drums, Russ led his troops through a superb set of diverse songs ranging from ‘Sweet Love On My Mind’ to ‘House of the Rising Sun’. Such was the over-whelming reaction of the crowd, that I doubt very much that we shall have to wait another eleven years before we see this band again.

Next to the stage was the fabulous Dani West, backed by the equally superb Doel Brothers. Kicking off her set with her debut single for Wild Records, Dani set the bar extremely high with ‘Ambush’. Dani has a very strong voice that is rather reminiscent of Patsy Cline, but which is also extremely versatile allowing her to cope masterfully with songs as diverse as the bluesy ‘Why Don’t You Do Right?’ to the more rock and roll flavour of ‘Big Boss Man’, to the country of ‘Make Sweet Love To You’ on which Dani duets with Gordon Doel. This is a very accomplished performance.

The Doel Brothers have graced the Rockin’ Round Up stage before both in their usual guise and as the Strayngers. Tonight, it’s the former that take the stage and they hit the ground running with the sublime ‘Something’s Cookin’. Other gems include ‘Futile Blues’ and ‘What’s The Matter Baby’ the combination of the brilliant guitar playing of David Doel along with his vocals and the guitar and vocals of elder brother Gordon and the steel guitar playing of Phil Morgan raise this band right to the top of the genre. They really are brilliant musicians, fine songwriters and excellent performers.

There was only one act remaining for Day 2 and that came in the form of the ultra smooth and urbane Paul Ansell and his band, Paul has an uncanny knack of taking songs from beyond the genre and making them perfectly at home. I cite, for example, Iggy Pop’s ‘the Passenger’, Radiohead’s ‘Creep’, Jimmy Hndrix’s ‘Hey Joe’, along with some more obvious choices like Don Gibson’s ‘Sea of Heartbreak’ and originals like ‘I’ll Cry Instead’. Paul’s set is positively wonderful and there is no doubting that he is every inch the closing act.

Day 3 began with the table-top sale in the barn and the music began at 2pm with the excellent Ponchartrain. Playing a combination of western swing country and rockabilly this was an excellent set from a very good band. Featuring lead guitar, bass, drums, vocals, acoustic guitar, steel guitar and fiddle, this lot really were the real deal and got the day off to a terrific start.

Now, I confess to being a little perplexed as I watched the next band set up. This was because the three guys on stage were Ian Spellor on guitar, Stewart Dale on bass and Paul Saunders on drums. These guys were all members of Rusti Steel and the Tin Tax, though there was no sign of Paul Crosby (aka Rusti Steel). Moreover, the programme listed Harry James and the Tupelo Boys. All was soon to be revealed when a young man in a red suit joined the assembled and launched into ‘My Baby Left Me’ followed by a stellar rendition of ‘That’s Alright Mama’ that morphed rather perfectly into ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’. This young chap, performing a set of Elvis 1950s’ covers was working the crowd into a frenzy, especially the female contingent. As you would expect from the personnel involved the musical accompaniment was faultless and this was a highly enjoyable set.

Whilst the next band was billed as Rusti Steel and the Startones, all members of the band had been members of Rusti Steel and the Tin Tax. Regardless, the band was really quite phenomenal. It has been quite some time since I have seen Rusti play, but I was quickly reminded of why it was that I used to see Rusti play at least once a month. Alongside classics such as ‘Long Gone Daddy’ and ‘When I Found You’ were some tracks that I had not seen in Rusti’s repertoire before such as ‘Problem Child’ and ‘Alabama Jailhouse.’ It is, however, with the final song of the set ‘Big Sandy’ that Rusti’s genius becomes manifest. This has, undoubtedly, been one of the sets of the weekend.

To the penultimate set of the night, LP and his Dirty White Bucks. Owing to circumstances beyond their control the band features acoustic guitar and vocals, with a lead guitar, upright bass but no drums. Despite the omission of drums, the band establishes a very effective groove thanks to the rock-solid bass playing. Choosing a slightly left-field playlist LP and his band certainly rock the place.

To the final act of the weekend: Emilio Santoro and the Creoles. I confess that I was completely unaware of Mr Santoro and his work. He is, I think it fair to say, a quite exceptional Elvis impersonator. Once again, his backing band was utterly faultless as was the performance of Mr Santoro who treated the assembled to a set of Elvis’ covers drawn from the 50s and 60s. There was a touching moment when Emilio invited Harry James to the stage to duet with him on ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’. This tribute to the King has been a fitting end to a wonderful festival of music.

The Rockin’ Round Up has never once failed to serve up a feast of rockin’ music. That it manages to accommodate this in such a splendid setting and at such an enticing price is a testament to the superb efforts of Ian Hibbert and Alan Wilson and to these two gentlemen I am eternally grateful. If you have toyed with the idea of attending, I urge you forcefully to take the plunge, I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Nick Kemp

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