Sheiking all over

The Mississipi Sheiks were a singularly influential band during their 1930s heyday, playing country blues and a host of other popular genres to crowds both south and north. Their Sittin' On Top Of The World has been covered by artists ranging from Bob Wills to The Grateful Dead, and Rory Gallagher thought enough of them to pen a tune in their honour. Canada's Steve Dawson is another artist who has immersed himself in the music, and corralled a bunch of other performers into a tribute album released in 2009. It all worked so fine that some live performances followed, among them a gathering on the Hard Rock Stage at Bluesfest.

Here's one of them, Daniel Lapp on fiddle (he also plays the trumpet).



Del Rey rocks the resonator, Alvin Youngblood Hart plays guitar.



Steve rocks the microphone ... actually I think he's introducing Jim Byrnes, and I believe that's Keith Lowe behind him.



Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Jim Byrnes!



Steve slides.



Sheik-y action!



Matt Chamberlain on drums - like Keith, part of the backing band for the album.



Del Rey and an even smaller resonator.



Daniel fiddles about!



Jim sings!



Steve takes a turn on acoustic guitar.



Stringed action!



Alvin sings!



Singalong action!



And one last photo of Del rocking out on ukulele.



I'm sure the Chatmons would be pleased.

• Show reminder: Library Voices, Paper Lions, Bend Sinister and In Antarctica perform at Cafe Dekcuf; The Temper Trap, Delphic and The Hundred In The Hands roll into Capital Music Hall; The Disablers are at The Rainbow Bistro; the Elmdale House hosts Colin Rink and Johnny Good.