Booker T lays down a marker for the rest of the big names at Maryport Blues Festival

Saturday started early with a lively set from young stateside three-piece Virgil and the Accelerators, who belied their youth (they are 17, 19 and 20 years old respectively) to deliver a confident and flamboyant set reminiscent at times of Cream in their early days.

They were followed by the excellent Marcus Bonfanti Band. Marcus is establishing himself on the British blues scene, and has followed up his outstanding debut album 'Hard Times' with the more mature and skilfully crafted 'What Good Am I To You?' The highlights from each album were on show here and if Bonfanti's charm and skill as a showman had the audience purring, they were positively slathering after the impeccable slow blues 'Now I'm Gone', which, along with 'Knock Me Down', is the standout track from 'Hard Times' and has echoes of Led Zeppelin's 'Since I've Been Loving You'. If Blues often faces criticism for being too 'generic', Bonfanti is a refreshingly unique performer and possibly represents Blues' greatest hope in this country.

Strong sets from the fantastic Paddy Milner and the Big Sounds, and Bex Marshall played the afternoon out and as evening set in the stage was set for Mica Paris. Paris has seen some highlights in her career and the quality and power of her voice was evident from the word go. Opening with the toe-tapping 'I'm So Excited', immediately followed by the ballad 'Hold On', Paris showed that she has versatility even if her set lacked the traditional blues that the majority of the crowd came to see. However, Paris is a seasoned performer and her confident, powerful delivery, backed by her excellent band, soon won over those unfamiliar with her work. The well-chosen cover of the classic 'Summertime', given forth soulfully, was a particular highlight and by the time she closed the set with her biggest hit 'My One Temptation', she was accompanied by the majority of an invigorated audience.

The real draw on Saturday, however, was the legendary Booker T. Accompanied by his outstanding four-piece band, he brought a stellar presence to what was already a quality line-up. Arriving to a raucous ovation he settled at his Hammond Organ, an instrument he pioneered the use of, and warmed up a willing crowd with two instrumental performances that showed of the extravagant talent of the band he has put together. Things really got going with the Booker T and the MGs' classic 'Green Onions', a slow, creeping, relentless blues that gave the audience exactly what they had been waiting for.

Booker was clearly warming up, jacket off and looking relaxed he was playing to the crowd. With a well received "I have always considered myself a blues boy" he launched into the classic 'Born Under a Bad Sign', a dirty, lazy blues that saw Booker T's first vocal performance of the night and paved the way for a short set of classic covers.

'Hold On, I'm Coming' was up next, a blues of the highest order, which was given an original twist with 2 rapped/beatboxed verses from the outlandishly talented drummer. As his band thrilled a captive audience with their well-polished interplay, Booker stood and watched like a stern but proud patriarch. Soul classics 'Ain't No Sunshine' and 'Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay', the original recording of which Booker T played piano on, followed before a jazz influenced instrumental set which reached it's zenith with an extended version of 1971 classic 'Melting Pot', which included 2 outrageous guitar solos to leave the crowd baying for more.

Showing masterful control of his set, T ushered in an end to the nights proceedings with a slow retreat through Spaghetti Western blues 'Hang 'Em' and the rhythmic 'Time is Tight' before sending us on our way with a blues jam that laid down a marker for the rest of the big names here at Maryport.

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