Honky Tonk Rose at Leamington Food & Drink Festival
Review
Honky Tonk Rose always promise their audiences "three chords & the truth" but on this occasion they also served up, appropriately for the occasion, thematically appropriate songs: at one point bassplayer Horace Panter promised us "a couple" of songs about alcohol, but they spoilt us with four in a row (like bottles I suppose): with more later. The country music catalogue is full of heartbreak & tears & we got plenty of those in the lyrics, but Honky Tonk Rose transcend the subject matter & brought good cheer to the well attended festival. I particularly noted the excellent moves by the several dancing toddlers yesterday's set attracted.
I watched this band last year (though on the now dismantled bandstand which is being renovated) with an umbrella in hand & got a bit cold and damp, so it was pleasing that the rain had passed this year by the time they came on.
Many thanks to guitarist Rob Fielden-Nicholls (husband of lead singer/rhythm guitarist Sylvie) who today filled in for usual HTR member, violinist Jools Street who was required for duties in the far north.....
Honky Tonk Rose play country music they tell us, but they play from a broad palette which embraces associated genres such as country swing, cajun & r&b and range from the well known to covers of artists not even band members themselves all knew: it can be an educative experience as well as an emotive one with this band......
