Richard Thompson’s Meltdown Festival Day 3 – Rehearsal for Six Strings

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Featuring James Burton, Martin Simpson, Richard Thompson, Nokie Edwards, Dennis Coffey and John Etheridge

If you love the guitar don’t miss this extraordinary gathering of legends and masters.

The phrase “once in a lifetime” might be a bit hackneyed, but there are still moments for which it is all I can say. Today’s rehearsal for the guitar greats show Six Strings was certainly among them. I think you could feel the entire room break into huge smiles the moment Ventures Guitarist Nokie Edwards lead Richard Thompson and John Etheridge into Wipeout. The whole band working out the Hawaii Five-0 theme (“That’s why we rehearse.” -RT). Nokie and Richard then working out Vincent (the McLean Starry, Starry Night one, not Richard’s one about the motorcycle) by themselves at the edge of the stage. It just went on from there. And, I did not even see James Burton or Martin Simpson. True masters, often meeting for the first time, sharing the stratosphere of their craft, inspiration, and a huge helping of joy. Blues legends Beverly Guitar Watkins and Albert White blew everyone’s minds from their first tune, and may in turn have been shocked by the ferocious bass of Danny Thompson. And, Dennis Coffey, prior to nearly setting his little spot on the stage aflame, put it nicely, “I like to keep it fun.” It is safe to say that this show is going to be fun and then some, Dennis. Hard working drummer Jay Bellerose put it another way: “These guys are killing me.”

London, if you can get yourself to Southbank Centre and get a ticket tonight, I’ll guarantee that you won’t be sorry.