Robert Cray Band blew everyone else off the stage at Maryport Blues Festival

Sunday started with a performance of real quality from Rory Ellis Duo. After a long Saturday, which had been enjoyed to the fullest by all, Ellis was the perfect choice to begin Sunday's proceedings. A veteran of the festival scene, Ellis and his partner in crime Alex Roberts steadily coaxed us from our hangovers with a country-influenced blues set delivered with flair and the deep, hypnotic, stonecarved vocal style that identifies Ellis as a uniquely talented performer.

If the crowd were warming up for the evening session they still had performances of real quality and wild variety to come from the stars of the 2009 Maryport Blues Trail Hokie Joint and US veterans The Holmes Brothers. The latter were also returning to Maryport after a successful appearance in 2007 and it was easy to see why there was such a clamour for them to come back this year. With their well-established brand of gospel-influenced blues, The Holmes Brothers delivered a set that drew upon their 30 years experience of creating and playing the highest standard of blues music. After a cancer scare for Wendell in recent times, the close-knit trio are clearly rejuvenated by his recovery and the newer material reflects a fresh energy to their work.

The evening session had been much anticipated due to the presence of two of the most respected acts on the international music scene. First up were Canned Heat, known to many for their famed appearance at the Woodstock Festival. Anyone who has followed Canned Heat through the years knew exactly what to expect and the band did not disappoint. Charismatic and gracious on stage, their constant interaction with a willing audience was punctuated with classic country blues that nobody does better. From the classic opener 'On The Road Again', a travellers tale that encapsulates Kerouac generation America, through to their biggest hit 'Let's Work Together', Canned Heat had the crowd in the palms of their hands. Relaxed and enjoying themselves (even drinking cans of Stella Artois on stage!), the admission that they are thankful that High Street Banks are using their music in their commercials may have sounded the death knell for their hippy days but the spirit of Woodstock lives on in their music.

Bringing down the curtain on the 2010 Maryport Blues Festival was the Robert Cray Band. We have seen some truly outstanding musicians during the course of the weekend here but in Cray and his band, Maryport have delivered perhaps the most accomplished and soulful live performers on the blues circuit. Actually, scratch that, on this form, its difficult to think of any act, blues or otherwise, who could have come here and delivered a performance of such quality, combining blues, soul, funk, jazz and gospel music.

Setting the tone early on with the slow groove 'Anytime', this was soulful blues of the highest degree. Cray's solos, in stark contrast to those of Canned Heat's Harvey Mandel, are all long, hanging notes, punctuated by controlled, funky licks. There was no Rock God stance here, Cray is fully involved in his solos, feeling the despair of every note, telling intricate stories, even knocking on the microphone as he weaves audio-visual narratives. These are the qualities that elevate Cray above his contemporaries.

Cray was keen to remind us that "everything we do is funky" and that was evident in tracks such as 'Right Next Door' and 'On'. Everything Cray and his excellent band do is built on the solid grooves that underpin the greatest funk music.

It wasn't all funk though. Conscious of the nature of this festival, Cray played to the crowd with 'Don't Ya Even Care?' and blues classic 'Sitting On Top of the World', the latter of which prompted a tipsy reveller to loudly declare in a broad Somerset accent: "I tell you what… this guy is proper! The Real Deal!" Whilst those of us around him may have allowed ourselves a chuckle at his sodden state, none of us could disagree with the sentiment. Cray came to Cumbria this weekend and, quite frankly, blew everyone else off the stage. Joyful unrestrained, soulful blues from start to finish.

With that the 2010 Maryport Blues Festival was over for another year. The organisers here have used their experience to carve themselves an outstanding reputation in the British Blues Music Scene and long may it continue. Here's looking forward to 2011.

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