The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Festival’s tribute to rock and roll icon promises to B Goode
Musician aims to salute one of his own heroes in special show to kick off music bonanza
Singer Andy Fairweather Low has pledged to pay homage to the “father of rock and roll” when he plays at the Perth’s Southern Fried Festival next month.
The former Amen Corner frontman, who has played with a who’s-who of greats including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, The Who and Jimi Hendrix, will lead a cast of singers in Rock ‘n’ Roll Music: The Songs of Chuck Berry.
The show, on Thursday July 27 in Perth Concert Hall, launches the 10th festival, which takes place in venues across the city centre until Sunday July 30.
A pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll, Chuck Berry was a massively influential singersongwriter, covered by and inspiring both The Beatles and Rolling Stones.
John Lennon even famously said: “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’.”
Famous for his duck walk and hits such as Johnny B Goode, Roll over Beethoven and Maybellene, Berry died aged 90 in March.
Low explained the impact the famous guitarist had on him: “It is beyond words to sum up the effect that Chuck Berry’s guitar playing and life have had on my life and guitar playing.
“So I am honoured to be asked back to the Southern Fried Festival, the best run festival I have been involved with.
“Together with my own band The Hi Riders, who will be the house band and with some great guests involved, it will be a fantastic evening to honour Chuck.”
Andy Shearer, the festival’s director added: “We’re really excited to open this year’s festival with this fantastic celebration of an American music icon — even more so since we’ve got a worldclass musical director in Andy Fairweather Low and his eight-piece soul revue to anchor proceedings.”
Nick Lowe, Loudon Wainwright III and Beth Nielsen Chapman will headline the event, being joined by the likes of Canadian soul singer and songwriter Cyndi Cain, bluegrass, folk and country band Flats & Sharps, Steve Gibbons, country blues singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah, country music legend Doug Seegers and Hamish Stuart, formerly of the Average White Band.
“It is beyond words to sum up the effect Chuck Berry’s guitar playing and life had on my life... ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW