Blue sunday

It was snowing and blowing on the walk up to the station. Squally chilly weather coming in off the lake.. but the train is warm on the way in to town ..and not so very long after we are meeting up in the bar at Akkurat getting warm with a pint of traditional English winter ale. (..a pint of "Reinbeer" please!) me, Karin (my neighbour), Pål (needs no introduction(?)), Alexandre & Annelie (salsa friends)

Akkurat is one of the better pubs in Stockholm - but tonight it was not the wide and international selection of beer that was the attraction - not even the hundreds of different whiskies or the tasty mussel specialities on the menu. It was blues - in the form of Paul Jones & Dave Kelly - better known in the guise of the Blues Band perhaps. ..or for Paul Jones - his spell, long ago, with Manfred Mann.

But to be honest I'd come because a friend at work had said it would be good. And my friends were there because they believed me when I told them the same. ..and fortunately they were not disappointed. Two sets - the first with just Paul & Dave playing Mississippi blues on harmonica and guitar - and a second with a backing of sax, bass and drums with a more uptempo mix. Different in character but both really good.

Professional musicians who know their stuff seen at close quarters.. good tunes lovingly played - sweet slide guitar - and harmonica as good as it gets! Priceless! ..and free!
... errrr. Yes - I enjoyed it :-)