Ready to hold
when the pair teamed-up for some highly entertaining duets, particularly on the bantering In Spite Of Ourselves. I can’t remember the last visit she made to these parts. Suffice to say that the gap is way too long. Unsurprisingly the show is, I gather, sold out.
That Minnesota-based dynamo, Davina Lozier (nee Sowers), returns to the venue for the Saturday late-night slot (10.30pm) with her tourniquet-tight combo the Vagabonds, which happens to include Davina’s husband, Zack, on trumpet and vocals.
Davina combines a huge personality with teasing vocals and smart lyrics, and in the company of this telepathic band she never fails to delight.
Sunday night sees the Australian slide guitarist Jeff Lang, who has been a regular visitor to these islands for many years, form part of a double bill with Tennessean singer Amythyst Kiah in the SummerTyne lounge (Northern Rock Foundation Hall).
One of the recurring themes of the previous festival is the creative combination of acts which are often quite different in style. The artists appear to gain as much enjoyment from the cross-fertilisation as the audiences.
Other combinations over the weekend include Kelly Willis and Emily Barker (in Hall 2 on Saturday night) and Holly Mcvae and Jade Bird in the SummerTyne lounge on Saturday afternoon.
While all of the above shows are ticketed there is a varied array of roots acts across the outdoor and concourse free stages throughout tomorrow and Sunday, starting around noon, and the concourse stage is active until around midnight.
From Cornwall trio William the Conqueror to Arkansas Dave, the old blues/ jug-band sounds of the CD Wallum Trio to the Glasgow quintet Strange Blue Dreams, Lucas King and the lively piano/ guitar driven eclecticism of Peter Donegan (Lonnie’s son), Rosellys and Rachael Laven, Blue Highways, Hymn For her and Orphan Colours, there really is something to suit most tastes.
There are any number of peripheral activities and one of the most popular is the Tyne river cruise which this year features William the Conqueror and Roseanne Reid.
The boat departs from the berth beside the Pitcher & Piano but booking in advance is, as with all other events, advisable.
Tickets and timings etc are to be found on the Sage Gateshead website.