The six piece blues ensemble The Stumble played a lively set of original material and covers of blues,soul and jazz songs to a large and appreciative audience when they appeared at Lichfield Guildhall on February 1^st.

With a lively blues based sound, that took in influences from the likes of BB King and Booker T and the MGS, playing songs from their three acclaimed albums, and new material from their pending fourth.

Vocalist Paul Melville, and co played a lively set, that ranged from epic six minute slow blues numbers to swinging jazz grooves that got the audience on their feet. 'Lie To Me', the title track from their most recent release started the evening in good order, the song’s insistent groove and unified guitar and sax lines melding seamlessly with each other, whilst 'Just Stop', a new song, was a funky bluesy number, but it was the slow blues song, 'Freedom' that allowed the musicians to show off their pedigree. Fluent saxophone and guitar solos were underpinned by some fine drum and bass parts, and the duet for saxophone and hand drums that finished were the song had to be seen to be believed.

'Small World' was a livelier proposition, as was 'The Hougan', a tough, jazz song, full of spiky interjections and a characterful vocal performance from Paul Melville, who also shone during the set closer 'Evening', one of those haunting blues ballads that featured superb saxophone solos from Simon Anthony Dixon.

The second set featured some well chosen covers, and was started by 'The World is Tough', the title track from their first album, whilst the jump jive stylings of '360 Degree Blues' was appreciated by the audience. BB King’s 'You Upset Me Baby' received an excellent rendition, with its fast beat being in direct contrast to the slow blues of 'All Over Again' featuring long, technically accomplished guitar and saxophone solos that received rapturous applause from the many blues fans in attendance.

Sam Cooke’s 'Bring It On Home To Me' bought up the tempo, and featured audience participation before set closer 'My Life' started out deceptively as a slow blues song, before a lively encore bought up the pace.

An encore was inevitable, and was delivered with Hound Dog Taylor’s 'Give Me Back My Wig', a good time upbeat song. The Stumble are rightly seen as one of the country’s leading blues bands, featuring a talented singer/frontman, a tight rhythm section, and three fine soloists, and are well worth the entry price.

Photo: Gavin Morrow

Smoke machines, disco lights, wah wah guitars, screaming feedback and three talented bands are the ingredients in a smorgasbord of entertainment at Lichfield Arts latest rock night. In an evening that is different to most other Lichfield Arts concerts, this evening is about bombast and spectacle as much as it was about musical delicacy. Third Angle Projection, Fire and More Fire and The Madeline Rust play sets that range from acoustic introspection to full on rock, from narrative stories about serial killers to more mundane everyday subjects.

Taking on the difficult task of opening tonight are Third Angle Projection, who deliver an acoustic set. Vocalist and guitarist Arron and bassist Dean play songs partially inspired by the sound of Nirvana, but melded their own ideas from myriad genres. including indie, rock, grunge, metal, into a melting pot of inventive sound. Highlights from their set include such songs as ‘Useless’ and ‘The Unreliant’, whilst set closer ‘Wake up Call’ touches on a lot of crowd. Although the group are usually an electric three-piece, this was a chance to hear unusual, restrained arrangements out of the context of their usual set.

Fire and More Fire however, are a completely different proposition. Virtuoso guitar playing, and a solid rhythm section, as well as inventive song craft are all brought to the fore. Al on guitar and vocals, Danny on guitar and vocals, bassist Glen and drummer Gareth take inspiration from bands such as The Pixies, Mudhoney, Fugazi and Queens of the Stone Age to deliver a short but powerful set of original material. The punkish ‘Drag’ is delivered with aplomb, whilst the soaring, melodic ‘Hear Through the Heart’ blended a fine tune with complicated musicianship and shifts in time signatures to fine effect.

Closing this action packed evening are the Nottingham based The Madeline Rust, here augmented by a number of extra players. The trio, led by bassist and vocalist Lucy Morrow, and guitarist Aly McNab, and drummer Martin Syret are accompanied by Geralt Ruggerio on guitar, cellist Clara Pascall, and backing vocalists Calum Mcnab and Alison Taylor play songs from their album Truth or Consequence.

Imagine Pink Floyd, front by Sinead O’connor playing the lost music of Ennio Morricone, and you will have some idea of the type of sound that The Madeline Rust uphold They start their set with ‘Hey’ which is a fine opener and allow the group to stretch out, whilst musical beauty features throughout the soft ballad ‘Desert Rain’; McNab’s lap steel guitar and the lilting musical refrain adding much to the sound.

‘Serial Killer song’ is a brooding masterpiece, anguished vocals and complicated musical ideas, whilst ‘Zoe’ is a softer ballad.

In all, this was a good concert, that showed the level of local musical talent. All of the bands play live locally, and are worth seeing on their own merit.