BIG RIVER BLUES & JAZZ FESTIVAL
Mandela Hall and St. George's Market, Belfast
Friday August 22 to Sunday August 24

The second annual Big River Blues & Jazz Festival got off to a sizzling start with the first Northern Irish appearance of Stax Records soul legend Steve Cropper (Booker T. & the M.G.'s, the Blues Brothers Band). Cropper – resplendent in Hawaiian shirt and ponytail, and clutching a tiger-print Telecaster – is a man who can take his pick of backing bands, and for this current tour has chosen well: The Animals.

As with many classic groups, the sixties survivors' line-up is fractured and there are several versions doing the rounds. At the Mandela Hall, it was the one led by original drummer John Steel, who, with Eric Burdon, co-founded in 1957 what would later become the Animals. Now, all these years later, Steel and keyboardist Mick Gallagher – who was briefly an Animal in '65 – are keeping the dream alive with Johnny "Guitar" Williamson and new singer-bassist Peter Barton. The barrelling frontman is the band's trump card. At 46, Barton is younger than some of the songs he's singing, but his gritty, soulful voice could have crawled straight out of the Delta swamps.

Cropper and the Animals turned out to be an inspired pairing. It was the first night of the tour, but, barring a shaky rendition of Soul Man, both acts did their illustrious back catalogues proud. Cropper's slick licks added an American flavour to the likes of Justify My Life and We Gotta Get Out Of This Place, while the Animals lent a thumping sense of purpose to (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay and In The Midnight Hour. A closing rip through John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom and the ever-ubiquitous House Of The Rising Sun had the whole room on its feet.

Earlier, the gathering crowd had been warmed up by Memphis piano man Charlie Wood – featuring a bizarre guest spot by Amy Winehouse's saxophonist Aaron Liddard – and New Yorker Michael Powers, whose earthy set amped up the raw blues quotient.


Following extended memorials to Irish blues maestros Jim Daly and Sam Mahood, day two in St. George's Market was running late by the time Milo Z kicked in. The New York funksters were tight and entertaining, but most people were there to see just one act – Nine Below Zero. The R&B stalwarts blew the roof off the Spring & Airbrake a few months ago, but Belfast can't seem to get enough. The presence of Gerry McAvoy and Brendan O'Neill – Rory Gallagher's rhythm section – fitted the mood of Saturday's tribute concert, but it was singer-guitarist Dennis Greaves and harmonica player Mark Feltham who powered the show, tearing through She's All The Rage, We Rock The House and the group's biggest hit, 11 + 11.

The evening came to an ignominious end with Terri Hooley clattering onstage during the dying chords of You Can't Please All The People All The Time. The compere was calling time on NBZ's performance, but the audience were on a different page. "If you want to hear more," spat Hooley, dismissing shouts for an encore, "then go and support them next time they play the Empire." It was toe-curling stuff, and McAvoy in particular looked livid.


Onto Sunday, and the final night in St. George's Market was dominated by barnstorming sets from local hero Rab McCullough – celebrating 45 years in the business – and British veterans Ten Years After. The latter, returning to Belfast nearly 40 years after their previous visit, are now fronted by 31-year-old Joe Gooch, who has been subbing for founding guitarist Alvin Lee since 2003. The age gap between Gooch and ancient original members Leo Lyons, Ric Lee and Chick Churchill is startling, and when white-maned bassist Lyons fell over during a blistering King Of The Blues you really hoped he was okay.

If Lyons is the heart of the new band, then Gooch is the hands and head, with searing fretwork and a harsh, authoritative wail to rival his famed predecessor. The closest thing the UK ever came to a homegrown ZZ Top, Ten Years After plundered the archives for a mix of old favourites – Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, 50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain – and newer material, such as the punishing Big Black 45. A thunderous drum solo and a lengthy jam through to Choo Choo Mama brought the hammer down on this year's festival in raucous, riveting style.