Taj Mahal pulls out of Maryport Blues Festival

Taj Mahal has cancelled his headlining performance at this year's Maryport Blues Festival.

Veteran blues legend Taj Mahal has cancelled the whole of his European tour in July including his headlining appearance at the festival. The announcement was made on Taj Mahal's website and confirmed by his management to the festival organisers over the weekend.

The announcement on Taj Mahal's website is as follows:

EUROPEAN TOUR CANCELLED July 3rd
It is with much sadness that I will no longer be able to attend my planned Taj Mahal Trio European tour July 13th-July 26th.

Unfortunately, I must instead attend to a private, personal matter during this time. In my 40+ years in the business, I have never had to cancel a tour so this was a very difficult decision for me to make.

I take my fans, promoters and performances very seriously, and would never cancel a tour unless it was absolutely necessary.

It truly saddens me to disappoint my fans, so The Taj Mahal Trio will be making every effort to return to your fine city.

I sincerely apologize for the short notice of this cancellation and thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding during this difficult time.

Maryport Blues Festivals Committee is working hard to secure a headliner to replace Taj Mahal on the Sunday evening. Jethro Tull headlines on Friday, and John Mayall on Saturday. Supporting artists include Ruby Turner, the Blues Band featuring Paul Jones (also broadcasting for Radio 2 at the event), Ryan Shaw, Rab McCulloch, Alan Nimmo, WT Feaster band, Laura and the Tears, Dani Wilde. A group of blues artists, who have been regular visitors to Maryport over the years, will perform together under 'Friends of Maryport'. The outdoor stage and in pubs & clubs around town will be acts including Awol, Blueshouse, Broken English, Buzzard, Cats, Debbie Giles Band, Doctor brown and the Groove Cats, Feed Me, Gentleman Tim and the Contenders, Graham Robinson, Hokie Joint, Jay Tamkin band, Jon Amor Band, Mat Partner, Mingos Locker, Naturalz, No Mean Feat, Rosyblue, Route 666, Roy Mette Band, South Quay, and Timo Gross.

The rest of the festival line-up of over 40 bands and 150 individual musicians from all over the globe who will be performing in the main stage marquee, in the pubs and clubs, on an outdoor stage and on the street, will be announced soon.

As well as two main stages there is usually a DJ room, a visual arts and workshop area, a festival club, film programme, children's festival, an expanded market festival bazaar, and a silent disco.

Workshops this year include a Harmonica workshop with Giles King, of Hokie Joint, top British harmonica player on Saturday 25th July, at The Settlement; and acoustic guitar workshop with Dave Kelly, of The Blues Band, on Saturday 25th July, at The Wave; a vocal workshop with Keri Farish, award-winning lead singer of South Quay on Sunday 26th July, at The Wave; and a songwriting workshop with singer, songwriter and guitarist Sean Webster on Sunday 26th July, at The Settlement. Workshops take place on either Saturday or Sunday, start at 10.30am and last one hour. Tickets are available, priced £5 each, from The Wave and the Blues Festival Office (The Maritime Museum).

There are also numerous stalls selling musical instruments, crafts and so forth, Fair Trade goods, and information stalls on issues of global interest. Plus workshops include drumming and guitar.

Tickets are priced at £99.75 for an adult weekend ticket, Friday day tickets are priced at £38.50, Saturday or Sunday day tickets are priced at £44 for both afternoon and evening sessions. To buy tickets, click here.

Latest Updates