BOSCAWEN PARK, TRURO (6TH AUGUST)

TOM MOUNSEY

Bottleneck guitarists are thin on the ground in Cornwall, as are steel National guitars, so when two come together you really need to put aside some time and have a listen.

Tom Mounsey has been up to his neck in this form of the blues for many years now and has perfected a gentle relaxed style that was well suited to a hot sunny day in the park. The soothing sounds that rolled from the speakers as his left hand slid up and down the fretboard mingled with his foot-stomping rhythm to produce a lovely mellow interlude after the hard rock of the previous artists. His mournful singing was a perfect match for the deeply southern groove that Tom is clearly still on. The blues needed an airing amongst all the bands today and Tom is, without a doubt, the man to do it.

If you want authentic bottleneck blues, you need look no further.

Apart from winning the day`s award for breaking the most strings in one song, (3 outta 6 ain`t bad!), Tom Mounsey also took my vote for the most relaxed twenty minutes. Blues to make you smile!

(Photos by Blind Silly Billy)