Tenby Blues Festival brought the community together in an amazing event in celebration of music over the weekend (November 8-10).

Sponsored by Pure West Radio, The Giltar Hotel, Tenby Brewing Company, and Bluestone Brewing Company, the award-winning festival once again steeped the Welsh seaside town in blues, blended with rock, soul, country, folk and rock ’n’ roll.

Main stage headliners included the Ian Siegal Band and Pat Fulgoni’s Blues Experience on the Friday.

The James Oliver Band reported that they had a wonderful time at a packed De Valence on November 9. The virtuoso guitarist “stole the show” according to one reviewer, but the ‘Tommy Cooper of the Telecaster’ was followed by a powerful blues-rock set from the Hamilton Loomis Band. Vince Lee & Sophie Lord dialled it back from contemporary to vintage with their stripped-back style.

Sunday night’s finale featured locals The Lowdown Dirty Dog Blues Band, followed by the legendary Michael Messer & Chaz Jankel Band and the amazing final act Sister Suzie. Combining forties glamour with an awesome blend of rockabilly, big band blues and swing, they had the De Valence crowd jumping like a Chicago juke jive joint, in the words of one festival goer.

Elsewhere, The Hoochie Coochie Band entertained a jam-packed Ex-Servicemen’s Club; Tom Davies and the Bluebirds played to a dancing full house at Tenby Bowling Club. The Blues Trail was bigger than ever. Over 40 free gigs at venues all over town included Jimmy Mac’s Band at Tap & Tan, the Mean Mistreaters at the Belgrave Hotel and Pembrokeshire singer-songwriter Jodie Marie at Ronni’z Lounge.

American acoustic performer Jim Countryman, who duetted with Erin Harpe, put it simply: “The Tenby Blues Festival was great fun!”