The 17th annual Dundee Blues Bonanza kicked off in style with an impromptu street performance by two of its international stars.
LA songstress Kat Pearson and veteran guitarist Lil’ Jimmy Reed sang together in Albert Square, much to the delight of bemused passers-by, to launch the festival.
Kat, who splits her career between London and Los Angeles, had only arrived in Dundee 15 minutes before and said she couldn’t wait to get into live action.
“This is my first Dundee blues visit and I’m so looking forward to it. I woke up at about 4.30am I was so excited and I already have goose pimples thinking about this weekend,” she said.
“Quincy Jones says when you have the goose pimples you’re all right.”
Kat hosts a blues workshop today in McDaniels and plays her first gig later tonight in Duke’s Corner.
The music proper kicked off at Duke’s Corner last night at the international launch party, where Lil’ Jimmy Reed and his Kickass Band were joined by one-man-band extraordinaire Streetdog Andersen from Denmark, German guitarist Werner Lindner & the Flaming Stratmen and the Maggie Ross Band.
Blues workshops, the junior workshop, jam sessions and over 130 gigs take place at more than 30 venues over the city centre during the weekend, culminating in the Sunday night closing party at Deja vu.
See www.dundeebluesbonanza.co.uk for more or pick up a programme with full details of the bands, venues and times at Groucho’s, the Bonanza HQ at Chamber East in Panmure Street and at the venues.