Review – Beckfest 2 – Summertime Rock n Blues Festival
Beckford Village Hall, 23rd – 25th, July 2026
Reviewer / Photographer – Paul Dubbelman
Only in its second year, the Summertime Rock n Blues Festival aka Beckfest took place at the village hall in Beckford, just outside Tewkesbury. Limited to 120 tickets this was truly a micro-festival, but a festival that still boasted an impressive line-up of local acts, tomorrow’s stars and true legends of the UK blues and rock scenes.
Given the strength of the line-up, it is of little surprise that it was sold out. Run apparently seamlessly by a team of volunteers (we know things are always very different backstage) with spirit, humour and pride in what they have created. With beer at pub prices, and a Festival Cup amnesty (meaning you didn’t have to buy another cup to add to the collection of Festie cups) it was probably no surprise that the ales ran out on Friday night, but by Saturday Morning the bar was restocked , ready to slake the thirsts of the punters.
Camping with basic facilities was in a field next to the hall, and the food truck (Courtesy of Alfie’s Kitchen) delivering meals that would challenge the largest appetites, helped to keep people close, creating a real party atmosphere that typified the weekend. There was a diverse range of musical genres on show, with a heavy bias on the rockier side of life but enough variety to keep everyone happy.
Thursday
71 Chain open the day with a mix of heavy blues, prog and folk, an eclectic mix that highlights the musical breadth of this little festival, playing songs from their new album ‘Time After Time‘. Jesse Garwood is a new(Ish) kid on the block but already making a name for himself as a consummate guitarist, singer and entertainer. Backed by drummer Elliot Flava and Ben Hancock on bass, this young power trio capture the spirit of the greats – Gallagher, Lynott, Hendrix – while making the songs their own. Jesse’s delivery of Thin Lizzy’s ‘Cowboy Song‘ and ‘The Boys are Back in Town‘ sends shivers down the spine, It is that good.
Fair Weather Riders deliver up a blend of Southern Rock, Blues and Americana – another young band that will grow as time goes on. The 71 Chain boys are back on stage, in different T shirts as The Chris Lappage Band and pounding out a fine set of Rory Gallagher Covers. The evening closes with a fierce set from legendary Welsh Rocker Martin Ace, with his band, Man.
Friday
Phil Bates, ex Electric Light Orchestra, starts the day off in fine form, treating us to some acoustic arrangements of ELO hits and other well-known songs, including Eric Clapton’s ‘Rivers of Tears‘, Phil claiming that “it has to be blues because it is miserable”. During the change-overs Crimson Flame, soulful blues duo entertained people on the garden stage with a mix of originals and well-chosen classics. Fine sets from The Bluescasters, Thomas Heppell (Solo) and The James Oliver Band followed before The Whisky Flowers took to the stage.
Anticipation was high ahead of the UK Blues Awards Emerging Band winners’ performance, both from those that had seen them before and from those that had simply heard good things about the band. That anticipation was rewarded by a storming, powerful set from the young four-piece. The twin vocal and guitar attack from Steph and Aiden is a total assault on the senses, and all held together by the Bass and Drums of Elliot and Ben respectively – an hour that simply flew by as the Flowers delivered with power, energy and connection. Then we had Festival regulars Ken Pustelnik’s Groundhogs, featuring Chris D’Avione on guitar and vocals and Sol Latif on lead guitar.
Saturday
The day was rudely awakened by the Stomping Blues of Big Joe Bone, before the find of the Festival (for me at least), The Bush Pilots calmed things down a little. Straight from Worcester to Tewkesbury via Chicago, the trio, Gary, Richard, and Tony, gave us a fine selection of covers, with Gary’s voice ranging from the abject misery of the blues to the wide-eyed hope of soul with apparent ease. Sparko’s Going Back Home, led by ex-Feelgood bass player John B Sparkes treated us to a wide selection of the Doctor’s best, closing their set with a spirited version of ‘Roxette‘. All that was missing for me was that searing harmonica that made Dr Feelgood so special.
After Dino Baptiste gave us an object lesson in boogie- woogie piano, it was time for Gorilla Riot to show us what they are made of. It’s been a while since I saw them last, but it is safe to say they are still that whisky-soaked, filthy rock n roll band that we know and love. Another hour that passed far too quickly as Arjun, Charlie, Luci, Deggy, and Gene, took us on an energetic tour of original southern rock and blues numbers. McHales Permanent Brew was another name that was on many people’s lips all weekend and rightly so as they performed an electrifying set of blues infused rock. The evening and the weekend was closed out by two stalwarts of the UK blues Rock Scene, John Verity, and Del Bromham’s Stray. Both bands have a long history and performed some of the hits from their vast back catalogues interspersed with anecdotes and tales from life on the road.
Sunday morning was pack-down and ship-out time, and people rolled off site to leave a field that was free from all traces of human habitation, a truly beautiful sight. Beckfest 2 was a perfect example of what can be achieved by a team of people with a single aim, the will to make it happen, and the passion to keep going right through the weekend. Everyone involved from Bar Staff to sound & light to stage managers and marshals gave their all to make this a success and did so with smiles on their faces.
Beckfest 3 is already in the diary for 10th – 12th June 2027 with a fine crop of acts already announced including Virgil and the Accelerators, Miguel Montelban, and The Whisky Flowers. There’s every chance that the Sold-Out signs will be going up at some point, so get tickets early.
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© All photographs are copyright of Paul Dubbelman/Dubbel Xposure Photography. They may not be altered or used without express permission.
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