Trevor Sewell at The Findhorn Foundation, 22/4/2016. A review.
Trevor Sewell and his band were far travelled to this evening in the Universal Hall at The Findhorn Foundation. Hailing from Newcastle and driving up for one gig from the North East of England to the North East of Scotland is no mean feat but I’m so glad he did.
This guy was not on my radar until tonight but he was a great natural player with a real deal blues feel as a songwriter and a fine choice and oomph in covers to impress.
Those who were at the Orkney Blues Festival in 2014 will already know about Trevor but for those who don’t please get yourself along to one of his gigs soon or if you’re a Booker get in his website and get him up to Inverness please.
Playing a Cherry Red Strat we get off to a blistering start with some of Trevor’s own material including the Delta Blues inspired “Talked to the Devil”. He is his own man obviously but there are shades of others in his style. The obvious comparison given his accent and choice of main guitar is Mark Knopfler especially on track “Shaky Ground” but it’s bubbling under, not plagiarised.
A brilliant cover of Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road” is followed by a tribute to Robert Johnson with Sewell’s song “100 years” .
He swaps to a fine Cigarbox Guitar made by “Chickenbone John” from Nottingham we are told. A great sound again I’m sure helped by the fine acoustics in the magnificent venue here at Findhorn . Anti drugs song “The Train” also stands out then back to be tested to some more familiar stuff in the shape of The Albert King song Laundromat blues in the style of Rory Gallagher.
Again ghosts of other players are noticeable in his style and he tops it all by playing. Mr Knopfler’s very own “Sultans of Swing” and again proves he is more than up tho the job as are his impeccable band with keyboards , bass and drums as tight as can be.
Sewell’s own song “Calling me Home” was the real highlight of the night for me. For those who know the band Arc Angels or Double Trouble you’d love this song, stonking!
This was a fantastic gig and Trevor Sewell is a great showman. He invited a local guitarist Stewart Scholes up on stage to join him for Sewell’s USA Award winning song “Where the wild ones Go” which finally got the adience dancing.
Sewell then invited Ali Davies from my very own band The Cadillacs to join him on harmonica for “The Roadhouse Sons” now Sewell is playing a unique guitar with a Scottish Wildcat painted on it by Polo Artist to raise awareness about this endangered species. Ali was great (of course) and got a very warm reception from the crowd.
Strangely , after most of the set was played on a stratocaster, Trevor then finished the show by plugging in a Gibson Les Paul to play a fantastic cover of the Jimi Hendrix song “ Hey Joe”.
This guys and his band is one to look out for. And if you haven’t been to the Universal Hall at the Findhorn Foundation , give yourself a treat and get along there soon.
It is beautiful.
Check out Trevor Sewell’s Facebook page.