An excellent show by all concerned and what an outstanding and graceful man James Burton is considerin the people he has worked with throughout his illustrious 40 year career. Workin with the likes of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, Leon Russell, Dale Hawkins and more recently John Denver & Elvis Costello. That laid back Louisiana style was in evidence throughout his performances at the Floral Pavilion and the more intimate clubhouse appeal of Fort Perch Rock. The recent shoulder operation did not hinder his performance other than havin to remain seated most of the time, the sign of a true professional and the highlight for me as well as takin photos was playin call and response harmonica with him on Kansas City. It's a great pity that I can't take photos and play harmonica at the same time as I would have captured that glint in his eye.

PJ commented afterwards 'what made you give up harmonica for camera?'

Galina Vale The Priory Birkenhead 25/11/09

Galina Vale once again stunned everyone with her flamboyant virtuosity playin a varied repertoire from the classical Caprice Op 1 by Paganini to Listz's Hungarian Rhapsody No2  from the flamenco of Malguena by Sabicas to The Legend by Escudero as well as compositions from South America to East European folk music.

She has to be the most exotic performer of the Guitar Festival with her changes of costume to complement her passionate interpretations, from the stompin arrogance of the flamenco to the delectable intrigue of Vienna when she adorns her various masks and hats and playin one intricate piece blind folded. 

Galina studied guitar from when she was  eight years old and performed her first guitar concerto with the Kharkov State Philharmonia at the tender age of twelve. She went on to study at Moscow Gnesiny Music College from 1985 to 1991

It was nice to know that she liked my previous photo enough to send it home to her mother in the Ukraine.

Michelle Shocked at The Pacific Birkenhead 06/11/09

  I first happened upon Michelle Shocked when I purchased a vinyl copy of the 12" single 'If Love was a Train' from the Oxfam shop in Liverpool and saw that she had included 'Goodnight Irene' by Leadbelly on the B side.

So what a pleasant surprise for me and my friend Blind AL to watch her perform at The Pacific.  This woman from Gilmer Texas has a healthy political stance on the recent US President and is not afraid to voice her opinion on this side of the Atlantic.

She gave a feisty and exuberant performance with her observations on life and love that included 'If Love was a Train' and was accompanied by an excellent five string bass player from South Africa whose name is ...............too difficult to spell.

Michelle would like to return to The Pacific next as she just loved performin there.........please.

I would have loved to see many more artists and joined Woody Mann's Guitar Workshops but unfortunately my family commitments

at present don't allow such extravagance at present.

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