From the Bluebell Inn, Hempstead

Hosts, Rod and Marian Stokes invited amateur musicians to join in with Tuesday night musical sessions in the public bar and also put on an extensive range of professional musicians to perform - roughly once a month, from around 2000 to 2012.

The venue became a favourite tour stop for a number of Canadian (largely Vancouver based) and American musicians as word spread amongst them, owing to the generosity and warm welcome they received - if not great remuneration! Accommodation, hearty food and ales were provided and many returned time and time again. The audience grew fond of our North American and Canadian friends - as they would sometimes even join with us locals in a pub session.

The Pines (Minneapolis), Stephen Fearing, Headwater and Sarah MacDougall are featured here - along with English (but French resident) blues artists, Rag Mama Rag. Appearances at the Bluebell Inn - each performed alone or as a duo, or for Headwater, a four-piece. These examples are studio versions with additional session musicians.

The Pines - Heart and Bones, from the album Tremolo

Benson Ramsey and David Huckfel - produce a sound that might have been heard a hundred years ago.

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Stephen Fearing - Yellowjacket, from the album of the same name

Solo artist and guitar virtuoso - performs his own songs. A frequent guest of Rod and Marian.

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Rag Mama Rag - Please Mr Engineer, from the album Road Movies

Ashley Dow (Guitar, Dobro, Weissenborn, Ukulele and vocals) and Deborah Dow (Washboard, drum, harmonica) re-work old blues tunes and original songs with a raw sound.

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Headwater - Brownstone Road, from album Lay You Down

Jonas Shandel - Vocals, guitar, banjo;

Matt Bryant - vocals, mandolin, guitar;

Patrick Metzger - upright bass, vocals:

Tim Tweedale - Weissenborn, steel guitars

Fast paced song with astonishing Weissenborn and Mandolin solos.

The band arrived at the pub on 17th November 2009. A locals’ session was in progress while four mysterious guys were eating at the other end of the bar. Around 10pm - one of them comes over with his double bass! (only just fitting into the lower bar - due to the ceiling height) - and joins in. (He seems quite good). Then a guitar appears and a banjo and then the Weissenborn. They join in with our mediocre songs and continue until way past midnight. I walk away with the biggest grin on my face ever! Their gig was the following night.

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Sarah MacDougall - Cold Night, from the album The Greatest Ones Alive

Swedish/Canadian songwriter with an enchanting voice.

After seeing her at the Bluebell for a second time in October 2011 - I bought her two albums at the time. The following day, my brother rang me to say that he had seen her at a private party in Somerset and was smitten. Pure coincidence.

Could have chosen several from this album. All beautiful, simple songs.