Jools told us all to boogie in the rain – and we did

8:10am Monday 7th July 2008

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“LET’S boogie woogie in the rain!” Jools Holland’s words had an invigorating effect on the soggy but enthusiastic sea of people standing before him in a field of Eastnor Castle’s Deer Park.

The pianist, backed by the brilliant 18-piece Rhythm And Blues Orchestra, gave an outstanding performance on Saturday night, despite the show beginning with a power failure which forced the band to rely on lung power alone. Fortunately, lights and sound were back on in two minutes.

The instantly likeable opening track was a new song called Fat Fred and it set the tone for the fast, feel-food show as good tune after good tune, hand clapping and mass singalongs ensued.

The rightly named Queen of Boogie-Woogie, soul singer Ruby Turner, came on halfway through and performed a divine version of Georgia on My Mind, while Marc Almond thrilled the crowd with a blues-infused rendition of Tainted Love.

There was an infectious festival feeling throughout. The rain held back most of the night and families tucked into picnics and enjoyed free ice-cream. It was ideal for Holland’s brand of rhythm and blues for the masses.

The pace, and perhaps the excitement, dropped a few songs in but everyone was dancing by the end.

While it’s hard to choose a highlight, Enjoy Yourself – “it's later than you think” – was a fitting end to a near-perfect show.

Lauren Rogers