Bluesfest: Cheap Trick

The final show of Bluesfest 2011 was by power-pop legends Cheap Trick. I've always been a big fan, but apparently Mother Nature isn't so keen. We got about five tunes, then the lightning, rain and wind made an appearance and blew the roof off - that's not a metaphor.

Daxx Nielsen, son of Rick, prepares his soon to be demolished kit.



Let's not tempt the fates, shall we Robin?



Jumping Rick action!



The whole lot, including Tom Petersson on 12-string bass.



Amplified action!



Twelve-string action!



It's getting a bit windy!



Audience singalong action!



Tricky action!



Rick sings! Note checkered in-line earpiece and pick-laden microphone stand.



A few minutes later the stage they were on looked like this:



A narrow escape.

• Show reminder: Zalanboor, Destroyer Scene, Annoize, Vanishing Act and Barrow Wight rock the Avant Garde Bar; For the Birds and Swaying Tuesdays flock to the Rainbow; Abstract and Amanda Bon (i.e. a vast horde of local musical lights) invade Irene's; The Charlie Otis Truss, Anastasia Filippova and Matthew Atkinson play a benefit for the youngsters of Keys for Kids at the Elmdale.