National blues stars heading to Wellington for one-day festival
Eight acclaimed acts will perform across 10 hours at Bowring Park as Wellington hosts the inaugural Under the Wrekin Acoustic Blues festival
Bowring Park in Wellington will become the focus of the blues world on Saturday, September 5, when it hosts Under the Wrekin Acoustic Blues – a 10-hour celebration of live music.
The event will take place inside a marquee in the park, beneath the backdrop of the Wrekin, with music running from midday until 10pm featuring eight nationally and internationally acclaimed acts.
The not-for-profit festival is organised by Groundhog Blues Club CIC, which was formed in 2024 by Joanna Deacon. The club stages monthly gigs at Wellington's Wrekin Inn in memory of her husband, legendary guitarist, vocalist and Groundhogs frontman Tony McPhee, who spent the latter years of his life living in Wellington.
The Groundhogs were pioneers of the British blues rock scene in the 1960s and 1970s, with their 1971 album Split achieving gold disc status and reaching number five in the UK album charts.
Organisers say the festival is both a celebration of acoustic blues and a tribute to Tony McPhee's contribution to the genre.
They added that Telford and Wellington are not regular stops on the national touring circuit, making the event a rare opportunity for local audiences to enjoy some of the UK's leading blues performers.
The festival will be headlined by acclaimed acoustic blues musician Dave Kelly, a close friend of Tony McPhee who was taught slide guitar tuning by him. Kelly is well known for his more than 20 years with The Blues Band alongside Manfred Mann's Paul Jones.
The day opens with multi-award-winning soul and blues singer Kyla Brox performing a duo set.
Other artists on the line-up include slide guitarist Michael Messer and former Blockheads member Chaz Jankel, whose set will feature songs from their debut album Mostly We Drive.
Three-time UK Acoustic Blues Act of the Year Oli 'Mississippi' MacDonald will also perform, alongside Mark Harrison and his band, South London's Jimmy Regal and The Royals, Plymouth duo Vince Lee and Sophie Lord, and Mid Wales performer Big Joe Bone.
Food stalls catering for a range of dietary requirements will be available throughout the day, while Rowton Brewery will provide the bar.
Groundhog Blues Club said the event has been made possible thanks to support from Arts Council England, Wellington Town Council, Rowton Brewery, Music Vault Wellington, Blues Matters magazine and Talking Elephant Records.
Full-day tickets cost £40, while a limited number of evening-only tickets, allowing entry from 6pm for the final three acts, are available for £25.
Tickets can be bought online or in person from The Music Vault in Crown Street, Wellington, and full details of the festival are available on underthewrekin.com.