A sell-out crowd saw a night of blues on Friday at St Mary’s Church in the first of a regular series of concerts planned for Richmond over the coming months.
Julian Socha, a regular performer on the blues acoustic circuit, headlined with a solo performance on the guitar, including a unique version of Hendrix’s Purple Haze.
Julian was supported by Swaledale’s own Drystone Blues Collective, a five-piece band with John Meara on lead vocals and guitar, Mark Golding on harmonica, Mike Betterton on guitar, Dick Gillon on bass and Richard Walls on Cajon.
The band played a blues set including numbers by the Rolling Stones, Robert Johnson, and a driving blues version of Folsom Prison Blues.
In addition to being a night of music the concert raised funds for The Friends of St Mary’s, joint organisers of the event
John Challis, from The Friends of St Mary’s said: “It is great to see our lovely church being used by the wider community, whilst raising much needed revenue for our charity work in the parish”.
John Meara, who set up Found the Note Music Club to bring blues and roots performers to Richmond and Swaledale, said he couldn’t have been more pleased with the night.
“To have such a terrific performer as Julian as our first headliner and to have attracted such a large and appreciative audience, well we couldn’t have asked for any better.”
Up and coming Found the Note concerts in Richmond and Swaledale
- Greg Brice on Friday, June 30
- 20 Foot Squid Blues Band on Friday, September 15
- Jed Potts and The Hillman Hunters on Friday, November 17
More information at foundthenote@yahoo.com
