Brian Wood reports

IT has been a wild and wonderful ride on this year's blues 'Big One' and there was still much to anticipate and enjoy at the final night.

The Big Town Playboys, one of Britain's premier R'n'B outfits, kept the audience swinging into the early hours. Featuring the larger-than-life personality of white-suited keyboard player Mike Sanchez, this was the most swing-laden set seen at the entire festival and it took no time at all for the main auditorium to be transformed into one of those sweaty little blues spots we all love to visit.

This was a perfect end to another winner of a festival, doubly enhanced by all the wonderful Fringe venues and acts - long may it all continue.

Earlier in the day and over at the Cotton Bar, Max Haymes' acoustic sessions had continued apace with another set by the excellent Steel Drivers and a welcome return by the String Dazzlers.

These sessions have been as historically important as they have been entertaining, but wait; this was not all 20s and 30s.

Just as we were settling into the relaxed ambience of this smashing venue, up pops the youngest blues band at the entire festival this year (and probably for a few years).

Same Difference hail from Colne and have an average age of just 13!

Led by keyboard/sax player Alistair MacSheen they reeled of half a dozen songs including perennials such as Green Onions and then finished with the blinding little sax-led Frog.

Due to Deacon Jones and Sinners pulling out at the last moment, we also got a chance to see Slack Alice go through an hour plus, of blues and rock and while Cliff and the boys pulled out all the stops and were terrific, the occasional lapses into pomposity makes them sound rather anachronistic at times.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.