Cognac Blues Passion 2024 began with notable performances by Malted Milk, the seductive rock version of Ghalia Volt, and then the electro-swing of Caravan Palace at the Jarnac venue.
The festival-goers present will long remember the energy displayed by the Belgian blues-woman and the fall of Zoé Colotis on a barrier, singer of Caravan Palace ! Despite a head and right leg injury, the artist finished her concert seated with ice packs. Bravo to this French band, who were promoting their latest album, "Gangbusters Melody Club."
The next day, concerts begin in the gardens and streets of Cognac for a new edition that will remain marked by rock. First of all, we must mention the new Rolling Stone Conversations stage, which hosts a whole series of artists for a personalized interview in front of an audience as close as possible to the action. The event concludes with a few songs performed live and performances by Little Odetta, The Inspector Cluzo, Rival Sons or Cédric Burnside left no one indifferent. A brilliant idea orchestrated by Alma Rota and Xavier Bonnet of the famous music magazine created in 1967 in San Francisco. Bravo to them 😉
Ghalia Volt and her musicians want to be more intimate than the day before during a "Groove at the castle" concert. On the road, we meet Jenny With The Band at the Renaissance bar and then meet one of the nice surprises of the special female leaders day: Little Odetta. Fabien, Aurélien, Florian but especially Lucas on guitar and Audrey on vocals put everyone in agreement! The energy deployed by the latter (notably on the recent singles "Struck" and "Who's Got The Answer?") in her very beautiful beige playsuit brightens up this mid-afternoon before returning to Fatoumata Diawara. The Malian woman, wearing superb handmade outfits and headdresses, invites the spectator on a colorful journey. Musically diverse, the former collaborator of Mathieu Chedid is unanimously acclaimed. Immediately after, Janne Timmer, singer of the band Harlem Lake, grabs her piano to set the mood for the spectators on the Experience stage. The Dutchmen's set will gain momentum by exploring their southern rock from their first album "A Fool's Paradise" released in 2022, then excerpts from "The Mirrored Mask", unreleased during Cognac Blues Passions but available since September 6.
The (much-anticipated) heroine of the day takes to the stage at Blues Paradise at 22:30 p.m.: Chrissie hynde and pretend. Black perfecto, jeans and thigh-high boots, the septuagenarian rocker will perform all of the band's hits except "Brass In Pocket" which sometimes closes the concerts. Beautiful new songs like "A Love" and "Let The Sun Come In" rub shoulders with the great hits "Kid", "Middle Of The Road", "Don't Get Me Wrong" and the relaxing "I'll Stand By You". Described by the singer as a "guitar hero", James Walbourne performs demonstrations on all the solos and seems to be the element that resurrected the band in 2009. An outstanding musician for an extraordinary concert. Superb! The evening ends with Brittany Davis, blind since birth and originally from Kansas. The American who goes from soul to rap has an extraordinary touch on the piano and is accompanied by very eccentric musicians! The show is guaranteed and the audience celebrates until the end of the night.
On Thursday, July 4th, an exceptional day begins at the Groove at the Château. A duo captivates the audience with a highly successful electric/acoustic guitar performance. The soulful voice of Alabama native Ellis Hooks perfectly matches Chris Bergson's demonstrative solos. Modern blues is in the spotlight, and the anecdote recounted Michael Rolland introducing the artists during his first interview with Ellis in the Netherlands a few decades ago is delicious. A real favorite! Passing through town, we meet Teddy Costa who plays effective country-blues before joining the American Nat Myers. The roots of the festival are represented in the performance of the poet of Korean origin who offers large excerpts from "Yellow Peril" released in 2023. Alone with his National Style "O" Resonator guitar and wearing a hat, Nat tells his story and takes the audience on a journey as will Cedric Burnside two days later along the Mississippi. The essence of Cognac Blues Passions is in these artists, such as Ady One Woman Band, who will be performing all week, Mister Tchang & Bluz Explosion opening the evening, and American Early James. With his band, the latter teases blues-rock with a sometimes very convincing nasal voice, as on the recent "What a Strange Time To Be Alive" and "High Horse."
The stars of the evening (and perhaps of the festival) are the English from Deep Purple who come to promote "=1" released in July. Ian Gillian, Ian Paice and Steve Morse are hard-rock heroes and the mega-hits played will set the Cognac gardens ablaze. "Highway Star", "Into The Fire", "Lazy" and its insane introduction, "Space Truckin", "Smoke On The Water" then "Black Night" in the finale. The 1h30 set allows us to see the singer in a small vocal form joining the backstage every two songs... probably to smoke or have a drink because his attitude is a habit! Fortunately, the long synthesizer, drum or guitar solos are part of the show and the compositions of a group with 23 studio albums. The evening ends with a (other) nice surprise, the French group The Blue-Footed Boobies whose delicious voice of Ronan Le Quintrec is a major asset.
The next day is probably the most intense of the festival. The Inspector Cluzo, Robert Jon & The Wreck, Rival Sons, Tribute to Calvin Russell and Johnny gallagher ! All interspersed with performances by Lorenzo Sanchez, Quentin Winter and the Cognac Blues Passions prize winner Jessie Lee & The Alchemists… needless to say, your columnist ran around while enjoying the local Cognac-based refreshments! The huge discovery of the day remains Robert Jon Burrison's band on the Experience stage. The Californians' southern rock is particularly striking thanks to guitarist Henry James Schneekluth, whose hair is like a Jacksons 5 from the golden age! Musically, it's a blast and an Eagles / Rascal Flatts vibe reigns in the gardens before meeting Rival Sons for an interview with the friends of Rolling Stone Magazine. The proximity is enormous and the observation will be identical with The Inspector Cluzo who recounts "between four eyes" his recent American tour. The concerts on the main stage of these two renowned groups are of undeniable quality. Jay Buchanan tells his story between two Scott Holiday riffs for a totally masterful set that enchants the spectators while the Landais Laurent Lacrouts and Mathieu Jourdain literally break the wall of sound and the drummer ends up carried by the jubilant audience. On one side "Feral Roots", "Open My Eyes", excerpts from "Darkfighter" and "Electric Man", on the other "A Man Oustanding In His Field", "The Outsider" and the enormous "Fishermen" delight a full house.
Jessie Lee & Alexis Didier's band also delivered, offering extensive excerpts from their two released albums, and there's no doubt that their performance next year on the main stage, following the recognition of their talent, will be unmissable. Charm and sonic power are the assets of a growing collective. The evening closed with a tribute to Calvin Russell offered by Manu Lanvin & friendsThe great class is gathered on stage with (among others) Beverly Jo Scott, Gerard Lanvin, Charlie Couture, Hugh Coltman, Théo Charaf, Nicolas Bonniere and Johnny Gallagher, who plays extra time with a concert offering the range of his multiple influences. The Calvin Russell project allows us to (re)discover the songs of an unknown artist with incredible talent. Bravo Manu for the initiative and the talent, "Soldier" and "Crossroads" will remain in the annals of the festival.
Saturday, July 6, the final day of the festivities, allows budding jammers to take the stage in a relaxed version. After opening for Ben Harper in 2022, Franck & Damien return to stage 1715 to present "Juniper Road," their latest album. The coolness of these two artists shines through in their compositions, and meeting them is always a huge pleasure. The audience understands this, and the outdoor venue is packed. Originally from Mississippi and the grandson of a famous bluesman, Cédric Burnside will present his tracks, which reek of modern blues. The American reveals short, family-friendly compositions from the album "Hill Country Love," which he plays with ease. 15 years after his first appearance at the festival, he performs solo, seated as close as possible to the genre's enthusiasts. A few hours earlier, he took part in personalized photos on the Rolling Stone sofa.
At the start of the evening, the talented Maxim Nucci, aka Yodelice, takes over the main stage. Tall, dark, and very handsome, the Parisian dressed in black with slicked-back hair wakes up the ladies and offers large excerpts from "What's The Cure," an album that will be available next month. Fans of "Les Petits Mouchoirs" are disappointed, but the artist's incursion into the audience surprises everyone and delights the lucky one beside whom he places his guitar to perform a song while seated. A very pleasant set before the diva of the day who will leave me "on my ass": Gloria Gaynor !
At 81, the American is one of the most famous disco singers on the planet, and I admit that her presence at Cognac Blues Passions intrigued me. The famous singer of "I Will Survive" will create a crazy atmosphere in the city's gardens, and all generations will dance to the covers that follow one another. From Sia to Christina Aguilera, including The Supremes and Beyoncé, 60 years of hits are reviewed with Gloria, who benefits from a cutting-edge orchestra and backup singers who deliver. Dressed in gold, the diva will literally stun the audience with her personalized version of "Killing Me Softly," originally sung by her compatriot Lori Lieberman. One of the highlights of the 2024 edition! Finally, the Delgrès trio offers a selection of its three studio albums (the superb "Respecte Nou"), and Rafgee's sousaphone still attracts a lot of fans. His dexterity, combined with Baptiste Brondy's rhythm and Pascal Danaé's guitars and vocals, brings this week to a magnificent close in a blues-Creole atmosphere.
The observation is simple: the Belle Factory company and its talented team (Michel, Samuel, Aude, Justine, etc.) and all the volunteers delivered for this 31st edition by offering sure values mixed with some very beautiful discoveries. The family and quality spirit of Cognac Blues Passions remains and continues to the delight of fans of the genre and music lovers. My summer must-try!
Diego OnTheRocks
Photos: Patrick Koune
