Review: HRH Blues 9 – Day 2, O2 Academy, Leicester – April 13th 2025

Review: HRH Blues 9 – Day 2

O2 Academy, Leicester (April 13^th, 2025)

Reviewer / Photographer – Dan Mann

Day two of HRH Blues 9, and it certainly seemed busier in the venue than the previous day. In stead of everyone seated, more people were standing on the barrier, the atmosphere more like a live gig than a theatre performance.

I knew more of the day’s artists than the previous day, some I’d seen before, others I hadn’t.

First out of the gate, Justin Light & The Midnighters, who delivered a strong rhythm & blues set of six songs, so no short change on the day’s openers. Whilst enjoyable, I do prefer my blues at the rockier end of the genre.

Next were The Martin Burch Band, a name I wasn’t familiar with, but this three piece again delivered a strong performance, finishing off with what was an excellent cover of the Rory Gallagher song ‘Bought And Sold‘.

Alice Armstrong took to the stage to a loud applause having just brought the European Blues Challenge trophy back to Blighty! She’s also just won the Contemporary Blues Artist of the Year for the second consecutive time at the 2025 UK Blues Awards. It was great to see Kev Hickman on drums, bumping into him backstage earlier for a decent natter.

It was blindingly obvious why Alice is getting the accolades that she is, an excellent performance, especially considering she was struggling with her voice.

Vanja Sky was someone new to me. A quick Google beforehand informed me that this Croatian born guitarist has been on many of the major blues and blues rock festivals throughout Europe as well as the Crossroads Festival. There’s an excellent video of a duet with Carl Sentance on her website.

I really enjoyed her set, blending SRV’esque tunage with modern influences, or so it sounded to my lugholes.

I was really looking forward to seeing the next chap. I’ve not had the chance to see Ben Poole again for a number of years. Ben’s style is very much to my tastes, think along the lines of Oli Brown and Kris Barras if you don’t know him. This is blues with attitude, proper toe-tapping stuff, love it! If that wasn’t enough, we were treated to a special guest appearence of Aynsley Lister for a cracking cover of Prince‘s ‘Purple Rain‘ to round things off.

Matt Pearce and the Mutiny were up next. I had been looking forward to the set from Matt & Co. However my health issues were starting to take their toll and I didn’t enjoy the set as much as I should of done. This is no reflection on Matt and his band, I’m looking forward to catching them again in better circumstances.

The Finnish powerhouse that is Erja Lyytinen took to the stage next. Another artist with attitude and a firey passion, If Erja‘s perormances don’t get your head to nod and feet to tap then there’s something amiss. This again is the sort of blues I like, something with energy and drive.

Due to the aforementioned health issues I had to miss the Billy Walton Band.

All in all an enjoyable weekend of live music and chums. HRH Blues returns for the 10 year anniversary to the O2 Accademy, Sheffield. Details can be found – here